My neighbor has a 99 dodge van and went through multiple front wheel bearing sets. Just last week the rear end bearings and unit failed. The conclusion was insufficient grounding. If this topic was covered here I appologize. I was curious as to what points the ground straps should be checked and/or added. I find this topic intriguing. How it applies to all vehicles and my 97 pickup 4x4 in particular has me scratching. Thanks

This is interesting. I've never heard of bad grounding causing bearing failures.

Engine block to chassis ground will cause this, if there is not a good block to chassis ground the alternator looks for a ground through whatever is the easiest route, bearing are usually the culprit. Not at all uncommon.

This is a cool subject. I'd like to know how best protect our rides. Back to my friend with the van, he added many grounds. He even added a ground to where the ABS sensor goes to ground the spindle. Engine to chassis and now chassis to rear axle. Is this overkill or is there a scientific solution? Also, do static straps apply to this?

Reminds me of a teacher in high school telling us if we ever arc weld on a car frame, or part, to ground next to it. Some guys put the ground on the motor or frame and the current goes through whatever path of least resistance, causing pitting on the bearing surfaces if it flows through this.

Can you rely on a heavy cable ground from the alternator housing/ frame to the neg. battery post? My Mech book says this is a very good thing to do especially when the alt. bracket is powder coated. I found some resistance in grounding from that coating.

Interesting...But typically I inspect my wiring and ground when I'm crawling around the truck. Sometimes during oil changes or other maintenance I inspect these little thing and check to be sure ground strap are not broken or damaged. There is a reason why the manufacture put these in place. I've so many time where some toss a ground strap in the trash to just removes it thinking the battery cable are good enough and find out it causes all kinds of weird issues.