Hey guys, so i was trying to get my axle shaft off to change the u joint and the wheel bearing was froze in the knuckle. So i got the slide hammer and started pulling and the wheel bearing started pulling apart! It was seperating wear the part wear the studs are on meets the part that slides into the knuckle that is held on by 3 bolts. It was extremly sloppy like the bearing was destroyed. I got extremly pissed because the wheel bearing was like new. So i put the 3 bolts back into the wheel bearing and put the big hub nut back on and tightened it and the wheel bearing has no play at all, like it re-seated! Spins likes it did before and makes no noise. I put the tire on and its as tight as can be. I even drove it around a little and it seems fine. Im kinda scared to drive it down the road cause i dont want to go through that pain if the wheel brakes off. Is it possible that the wheel bearing could be fine? Im lost and dont know realy what to do.

 

its the 96 1500 4x4.

 

Replace your wheel bearing and replace your u-joint while you are at it. One can make the other go bad. Just spend the money and replace the parts. And if you are worried about the money, just go look at the price of an axle shaft. If either one of those parts goes out while driving down the road, you will be replacing a wheel bearing, a u-joint, probably a stub shaft, and an axle shaft just to get started. Its cheap insurance.