The Great Wheel Bearing Farce.....

[Pete A]

Just a comment. Wheel bearings failing? These days? I've only had one wheel bearing failure in 40 years of driving any Ford I've ever had and with any mileage on them - and I've had a LOT. It was an Escort (yes I admit it) and it happened in the first 1500 K's , they fixed it and never had another problem. What caused it was a lack of grease (none)in that bearing from the factory.

I've never had another problem with any other Ford, and no one in my family has ever had a problem with wheel bearings. Sounds like people are having problems obviously but I just never ever thought these problems existed these days. Having said that, with the performance these cars put out and the demand on suspension compoments, it probably makes sesnce that the wheel bearing is under tremendous load. Just sounds like something else is not right to me.

[discostig]

Well I had both my fronts replaced, braking is smoother now though there's still shudder - bushes are dead at the front which is next on the to do list. Cost $300 including labour for both front left and right.

[hypnodoc]

So what do they do when they are dying, do they make a rumbling sound that gets worse when you turn left or right?

[discostig]

As you brake it's a grindy sensation. I have shudder so didn't notice until the Wilkinson Suspension bloke pointed it out. Was pretty far gone, the other had some friction burn marks inside but nowhere nearly as bad. I actually didn't notice a noise while cornering!

Dead give away was the really bad one allowed the wheel to be tilted side to side (camber) heaps when the car was on the hoist, no point doing an alignment in that state.

[YOB POM]

So what do they do when they are dying, do they make a rumbling sound that gets worse when you turn left or right?

That's right mate,If the noise gets louder when turning left its the right bearing if louder when turning right its the left bearing.(opposite bearing gets loaded)

I always replace them in pairs.

150k from my originals,

I'd be interested to know if any one with stock wheels and suspension has had problems, I suspect a lot made be due to lowering and aftermarket wheels.

John.

[discostig]

Mine's always on stock 17's and factory suspension.

[hypnodoc]

I got 2 fronts and 2 rear W/Bearings from Ford $280 for fronts, $86 for rears, and also some Mu pads and DBA drilled and slotteds from Racebrakes who have great prices and superfast service even to the far reaches of the country.

Now I just have to find someone in WA WA land who can fit all the stuff and not charge $180 and hour for an apprentice to stuff it up a la ford service style. I already had some some clown at a service centre quote me $600 to fit it all so I completely dumbfounded him by asking if I got a complimentary diamond with that ?

Does anybody know what would be a fair (non ford workshop) price to get F & R wheel bearings done, rear discs machined, fronts replaced and pads fitted all parts supplied by me ?

Edited 01/02/11 08:50 AM by hypnodoc

[ebxmple]

neil101 is spot on.... Alot of people punch a hole in the cap when trying to remove it. Us being us,we wash our cars regularly and the water and crap goes straight in there. They are a sealed unit so no sh*t is sposed to go in there at all.

[yw84u]

I did my first front bearing at 220,000 km, 03 xr6t it is lowered but standard 18" wheels with Dba 4000 rotors, the wife drives the car so it isn't thrashed, well that u know of, no track days and it mostly does highway km got them to do both while they were at it. mine just went one day it was fine the next there was a grinding noise

[2MUCHKW]

Wheel Bearing failure on these cars will 9 times out of 10 be due to water ingress!

Check Dust Cap for holes and if sound place a small smear of silcone sealant around lip prior to refitting.

Water will find its way in if your too lazy to use sealant when refitting the Dust Cap