wheel bearings, alignment and lift,,,

Towards the end of November I had a OME/Dakar lift installed on my truck. Right after it was done, I got it aligned. Now, 5-6 weeks later I got another alignment done figuring I would give it time for the suspension to settle. Not to mention I could tell it was out. The gentleman doing the alignment said it either the camber or caster (I cant remember) was pretty far out.

So, I got my truck aligned yesterday and the guy said that my left wheel bearing is going bad.

I have a '09 DCSB w/45,000 miles, OME lift, stock rims, 265/70/17's. About 20,000 of those mile are either towing a little 1500 lb trailer or hauling fire wood on some rough dirt roads.

My main question is, can the alignment be connected to premature wearing of the wheel bearings?

The truck is going into the shop on Thursday for an oil change so I will ask them to take a look at them then.

Just wondering what you guys thought.

 

bump.

 

I think that if your alignment was far enough out to cause a wheel bearing failure, it would be driving really bad and have uneven tire wear.

If the bearing is bad it's probably unrelated as long as you didn't have the symptoms I mentioned above. Even then it's unlikely in my opinion.

 

x2

 

Before you go crazy with this, did he show you and verify the play in the bearing, or did he spin the wheel and hear it rumble.

Not saying he is ripping you off, but I would ask to see him show you how he determined it is actually bad.

If your bearing is so bad to throw the alignment out, you have very serious troubles and would feel it while driving.

PK

 

Ha ha, thanks for putting things into perspective. This is coming from a recommended 'mom and pop' shop. The guy took it the truck for a test drive, felt it while driving, jacked it up and did the 'feel it grind/roughness through the uca test." i.e.-whenever he had he tire off the ground he spun it and that's when felt the uca. I'm not in panic or wtf mode, just wondering if there might be a connection. Only put about 500-700 miles on between alignments but it definitely pulled to the right.

 

Yes and No.
Wheel bearing is what keeps your wheel in correct position in reference to your steering linkage. Also when they do alignment that base that on Wheel itself (go through wheel bearing)
So if your wheel bearing has enough wear then your alignment will never be correct, and not correct alignment will speed up lose wheel bearing wear.