I got an inspection sticker today and the garage said my left front wheel bearing is going. how do they no, and how do I fix it plus cost. There is a humming coming from that wheel area, but my normal mechanic said it was the new tranny/convertor and should get better or queiter rather, that was a year ago. It still makes the noise like a constant whistle. Only when coasting below 35 mph. any help is greatful.

Jack up the left front tire. Grab hold of the top and the bottom of the tire and push/pull-pull/push on it. You can do it side to side as well, it's just that steering gives a little if it's not locked. There should be no play. The wheel bearing should keep the the wheel perpendicular to the axle with no play whatsoever. As long as the lug nuts are tight - if there is play then the wheel bearing is probably bad. You can get play like that with other problems but I think, with the whistle situation, the play will indicate that the bearing is to fault.

I don't know what the cost of a bearing is, but usually they are pretty cheap. As far as how to do it - I just took a look at the Chiltons manual and it seems much more involved than any wheel bearing I've ever done. But then again, I've never had to change the front bearing on a FWD before either. If you have a normal mechanic and everything you'll probably want to let them do it. I think it would take ~1 to 2 hours work. Someone else could probably be more helpfull on this part of your question.

You say you had a tranny/converter put in by your normal mechanic? There are very stringent tolerances for hub assembly in the manual about starting torque(1.8 Nm) and end play limits(.008 in.). I've never done this for my Eclipse but generally speaking, when tolerances are that stringent it usually means that it's an easy job to screw up. Sorry to tell you this, but if it's been bad(whistleing) since you got it back from him it's probaly his screw up.

Anyway, hope that helps.


ride__________95 Eclipse RS : 5 speed
power________Gude cams : AFX UDP : ram air : test pipe : Thrush glasspack
suspention___BOMZ F/R upper strut bars : ES inserts
sound________Kenwood KDC 5000 : Audiovox 8" sub toob - no sub amp(damnit!)
shizzle_______AutoCommand remote start : dual air horns
incomming___GreenSlime F/R lower strut ties : Jeep TB

thanx jim. My tranny is an auto are those tollerences the same cause it has been whistling since he put it in. It is a used tranny with about 40k on it now. came out of 98 avenger. only whistles below 35 coasting(no gas pedal/brake depressed). There seems to be no play in the wheel. I dont use that mechanic any more cause tranny gasket was leaking and he wouldn't fix it even under warranty.

Yup, same tolerances - MT or auto. We both have the same hub assembly.

EDIT : Sometimes a bearing will whistle when it goes bad or is installed wrong. It could be a problem with the transmission. I don't know too much about automatics...except they're slower and you have less control over gearing.


ride__________95 Eclipse RS : 5 speed
power________Gude cams : AFX UDP : ram air : test pipe : Thrush glasspack
suspention___BOMZ F/R upper strut bars : ES inserts
sound________Kenwood KDC 5000 : Audiovox 8" sub toob - no sub amp(damnit!)
shizzle_______AutoCommand remote start : dual air horns
incomming___GreenSlime F/R lower strut ties : Jeep TB