Squeaking noise, need to pinpoint

[HoustonGT]

Hey guys and gals, im pretty sure this is the wheel bearings or ball joints. When driving on the freeway with my windows down next to the cement barricade, i can hear a constant squeaking like noise coming from the car. Im pretty sur eits the wheel bearings but could ball joints make the same continious noise without hitting bumps? Sounds like it from the front so it could be either. Anybody experienced this or hapen to know which of those 2 need to be replaced?
Also, how much am i looking at to get new wheel bearings including labor? I heard it wasn't too much. Thanks
Mike,
SEMPER FI

 

[DTNODYA]

I don't know which one it is but it sounds like you are on the right track ... If it is wheel bearings and you have a jack and tools, it's really easy to put new bearings on. The bearings are like "non-serviceable" and have to be replaced as a hub. That makes it easier to change but the part itself is more expensive (I don't know exactly but somewhere in the $50-100 range, pretty sure) ... Not bad and as for the ball joints, you can jack it up put one hand on top of the tire and one on the bottom and see if it moves when you push/pull.

 

[the98stang]

I don't know which one it is but it sounds like you are on the right track ... If it is wheel bearings and you have a jack and tools, it's really easy to put new bearings on. The bearings are like "non-serviceable" and have to be replaced as a hub. That makes it easier to change but the part itself is more expensive (I don't know exactly but somewhere in the $50-100 range, pretty sure) ... Not bad and as for the ball joints, you can jack it up put one hand on top of the tire and one on the bottom and see if it moves when you push/pull.

Couldn't you just get new performance rotors with the bearings for that price?

 

[DTNODYA]

Couldn't you just get new performance rotors with the bearings for that price?

The rotors aren't part of the hubs, they slide off the hubs (if that's what you mean). Also, unlike many vehicles where you can take the hub off and re-grease/pack the bearings, the hubs (at least on my 98 GT) are made with the bearings 'sealed in' so to speak. I've read where someone took them out and re-greased them but it looked like a serious PITA.

I've never changed mine but I had to take them off one time so that's how I know they are 'un-serviceable' ...... Hell, I could be wrong but I'm pretty sure that I am not loosing my mind. .... one of those days ...