i have a 98 mustang, i know the seal is bad on the left rear but i dont know if the bearings are or not....sometimes when i put on my brakes or turn, there is a groaning/ rubbing noise coming from the back that doesnt sound like brakes
Jack car up and be careful- spin tire forward if you hear the noise pull up and down on the tire -if there is a bunch of movement up and down and in and out it is the inner wheel bearing!Take tire and all brake work off and you will see the wheel bearing- then replace it!
What we do is change both bearings and both seals when replacing one side. You are already in the differential to replace one side, the labor itself is saved if you do it all at once. Usually a bad bearing allows the axle to move around and this in turn destroys the grease seal. If you have been leaking fluid for a while and the oil level in the differential is low, you may have damaged the carrier bearings, spider gears, or pinion bearings. I have not heard many rear axle bearings make noise when it was time to replace them but I have heard a lot of differential parts make noise so you may want to have that checked out and make sure the rear end isn't destroyed.
the noise is the first clue. The other way to tell is to drive it on the highway for a while, then when you stop get out and feel the center of the wheels. If they are really hot there is a good chance that your bearings are going.
jake it up and rock the tire back and forth and side to side if there is noticable play the wheel bearings are bad
On rear wheel drive cars, if its leaking 90 weight oil you will have to remove the bearing to replace the axle seal. Change the bearing, if it was holding the axle in place the seal would not have went out.
