2003 Lesabre,

Hearing the classic whirring.... out of one of the front wheel bearing*.
Plan on changing it when I get home, traveling right now.

Just wondering what are the traditional steps of degradation, in other words as it gets worse
what will be the changes and worse case..

My assumption is that the noise will get worse and worse (not to bad now, some speeds hardly noticeable) until it get so noisy you'll want to change it.

In any case what is worse case, like to try and make a few hundred miles to home and not change it on the road.

The noise usually gets louder from low speeds to about 40-45.......then safely(WITH NOBODY AROUND YOU ON THE ROAD) turn slightly one way and then the other, then back to center.....you will notice it gets louder when you turn one way, and diminishes when you turn to the other side....

Diagnosing which side while driving can be confusing.......the best way, is to block the rear wheels, raise the front end and use jack stands, and have someone behind the wheel.....Have someone put vehicle in drive, and just release the brake pedal.....both wheels will spin(no need to touch gas pedal).....laying on a creeper, with a mechanic'* stethescope on, stop one wheel with a gloved hand, and with the other hand put the stethescope on the knuckle bolt of bearing, on the moving wheel of the other side......then do the same for the other side....the loudest noise gets the bearing.....

You can't go by just feeling for looseness in the bearing....I have seen them loose, and not make a noise......then you replace it, and the noise is still there........however, if noise is coming from one side, AND the opposite side is loose but not making noise, I would replace both....that lose one will eventually make noise......

STAY AWAY FROM CHEAP AFTERMARKET BEARINGS........you will be replacing them again, possibly within a year........

Not sure what all the gibberish was in the 1st post... trying again.

2003 Lesabre, =left
=left
Hearing the classic whirring.... out of one of the front wheel bearing*.=left
Plan on changing it when I get home, traveling right now.=left
=left
Just wondering what are the traditional steps of degradation, in other words as it gets worse =left
what will be the changes and worse case..=left
=left
My assumption is that the noise will get worse and worse (not to bad now, some speeds hardly noticeable) until it get so noisy you'll want to change it.=left
=left
In any case what is worse case, like to try and make a few hundred miles to home and not change it on the road

p.*.

=left
Just to mention, I am a backyard mech., and have changed bearings and hub assemblies....=left
=left
Just wanted to know if someone had some experiences with this, and how long they may have driven on a bad one.

Well that didn't work...… they were a cut/paste

And apparently I can't edit the post ??

[Edit] is unavailable after something like five minutes. Enough time to correct a mistake but not enough to change stuff after folks have responded etc.

What Tech II said above ^^^^^^

. . . and I'd change them both if I was changing one. Cheap insurance for the next long trip.