Ok my wheel bearing started going out a while back but I didn't realize what it was till recently, it's getting really bad at the moment but I really have no choice but drive it, its grinding horribly sqweeks and seems to slow the truck.
Few questions:

How much damage can I cause if I haven't already caused by driving it with a bad wheel bearing?

I'm hurting on cash and waiting for my tax check which is almost nothing, the hub is $140ish can I save money and find one at a junk yard or pullapart and be safe?

I've got 31x10.50s on stock suspension what can the oversized tires do?(plan on lifting it or at least leveling the front this summer when I can afford it)

Everything I've read says I have to replace the entire hub not just the bearing is this true?

Truck is a 1994 splash 4x4 the bearing thats bad is the front passenger

 

If you didn't ruin the hub, it won't need replacement. Stop driving it and get it looked at. You have the potential to loose the whole wheel. Are you familiar with setting wheel bearings? Your 31's more then likely did no harm to the bearings. I would guess they haven't been packed in a while/maybe the nut backed off. Save money, check it now

 

I know with '98 plus trucks you really do not want to cheap out on the hubs. If you keep driving, besides the chance of catastrophic wheel detachment you could ruin your brake pads, rotors, and calipers.

 

80's to 97's have conventional wheel bearings, not wheel/hub units.

 

@rolsmojave3 so does this mean I only need the $30-50 bearing? If possible explain cause I'm not exactly educated on this.

 

I've been told its got a flat spot and it's getting worse

 

You will have to replace the inner and out bearing and race along with the wheel seal.

 

we just learned this in class but for some reason i have no idea. i know if its bad you can ruin brake systems, tires, alignment issues and it WILL end up costing you more to fix if you keep running it. as for it being a serviceable or non serviceable wheel bearing hub assembly im not sure till i see it. and repacking it with grease wont help you.

however, if you get the parts, you can probably do it yourself. its not a complicated task.

 

Alright could someone possibly post a link(s) for the parts I'll need, I've got to drive it to school tomorrow, no other choice but if I can get the parts I've got a few buddies who can help me fix it on sunday

 

Bearing:

http://www.jcwhitney.com/timken-whee...d=d658y1994j1#

Wheel seal:

http://www.jcwhitney.com/wheel-seal/p2024937.jcwx

Is this te correct part?

 

That's one of them.. Go to your NAPA. Tell them you need inner and outer wheel beaings and a wheel seal. Done deal.

 

If he is hearing noises, then I'm betting the inner bearing is failed and the whole rotor has moved inward and is now rubbing on the caliper bracket...hurry and fix it before you ruin the rotor too. If the inner bearing is really chewed up, your spindle might be ruined as well...MAKE sure that smooth bearing surface is not damaged.

Both bearings/races and wheel seal shouldn't run you more than $45....don't forget to pack the new ones with appropriate disc brake grease and to put the correct preload on the bearings with the axle retainer nut.

 

$45 total?

 

Yes, unless the spindle has damage.

 

As said before if you keep driving the bearings will continue to eat themselves up, they sould seize to the spindle. And the worst problem would be catastrophic wheel/tire detachment.

 

how do i get the bearings out to replace them?

 

Remove wheel. Remove 4wd hub. Pull brake caliper. Remove nut under 4wd hub. You got it.

 

here ya go. do this process BUT for your year truck

 

http://www.google.com/imgres?q=1995+...0&tx=123&ty=50