I have noticed a rythmic clicking sound coming from the rearend. The sound comes and goes, and from what I have read this is likely to be a wheel bearing. The side that I believe the noise is coming from has a small leak in the wheel bearing gasket. Here are my questions:

1) Is there some other way to confirm the problem before I pull the axel? Will there be some play in the wheel with the car jacked up? Should I be able to detect a noise when turn the wheel with the car jacked up?

2) I have also occassionally noticed a clicking sound when I apply and/or relaese the brakes. This seems to be coming from the rear of the car also. Any thoughts on this?

 

Jack the car up and put it in neutral. Go to each rear wheel and spin them. Listen for the noise and/or feel it by laying your hand on the axle housing near the brake backing plate. If its bearings usually one side is louder than the other. I would think if your seeing lube leaking out by the axle bearing seal thats the side that has problems.

Applying brakes just loads up the bearings differently and could be the result of bad bearings as well.

 

Thanks for the feedback. I hope check this out tonight.

 

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