question on Wheel Bearing after driving through sandy water

Weird title...I know. 2 weekend ago we were at Bald Mountain in Virginia...lots of rain recently, lost of water....we noticed when we got back to camp, we had a lot of sand on our trucks...for whatever reason, there was no mud..it was this sandy soil. That being said, we went through some really deep water crossings....

Both sets of wheel bearings have been replaced in the last 20k miles. Now, I'm hearing a weird like grinding noise...and there seems to be a little bit of drag. Any chance the bearings have a ton of that sand in it and that's what is causing it? I can't look at it until Thursday, just trying to get some ideas. Maybe a seized caliper??

 

Have you done the rear diff breather mod? Sounds like that one is right up your alley...

 

What exactly happens in the diff if you drive through water and what exactly is the benefit of relocating the diff breather?

 

When the diff gets hot and you drive through cold water (creating a vacuum), you suck water in through seals because the stock diff breather only lets pressure out but not in.

Diff breather mod raises the breather to taillight level and makes it 2 way, so when a vacuum is created, air is sucked in to equalize pressure.

 

Bingo! I was being facetious because a lot of people recommend or do this mod without actually understanding what it does.
Sorry for assuming you may have fallen into that category!

 

Yup..done before it was cool.

 

Soooooo....any thoughts on the original question to the post??

 

My first instinct wouldn't be to assume the wheel bearings. It's not like vehicles aren't subject to pretty nasty stuff normally and driving through sandy water isn't really forcing debris past the seals. I'd think you have gunk between the pads and rotors, inside the drums, maybe around the CV seals, stuff that's directly exposed to the elements. Sand would have to make it pretty deep into the hubs past double lip seals to ruin wheel bearings without affecting other stuff first.

 

Personally I'd pull the drums off first to make sure they aren't packed with debris and dragging. It would be like you're driving with the parking brake on slightly if they're hanging up.

 

I doubt its the wheel bearings. I driven my 4runner 4x4 through merky sandy water and never had any issues with bearings. Check your brakes. Sometimes pebbles get stuck in between calipers rear drums, etc.

 

Clean out your rear brake drums!

 

I'm going to be pulling the wheels off on Thursday to see what's up.

 

Update. Driver side caliper bad....going to replace both...AND.....passenger side wheel bearing bad. ugh.

 

Did these fail from the water crossing @Icepuck72? Or were they old enough that it might be coincidence?

Edit: I see now the wheel bearings were 20k. Interesting.

 

So the passenger side bearings were done about 20 to 25k ago...but I had GoodYear do this...I know, live and learn. They probably used the CHEAPEST assembly they could get their hands on...I got a Moog today and did it. That is what I used on the other side. I have done a lot of wheeling...Red Clay Rally, Colorado trip, other wheeling trips...so this is probably why. Calipers were OEM originals!!!

 

Sunk the wifes 4Runner at Bald Mountain last summer..........