Wheel bearing service life
Discussion
blank said:
You'll have to remove quite a few (normally seized and therefore tricky and likely to lead to more problems) components to change them.
They only need to be changed if there's an issue - Noise, freeplay etc.
If it aint broke...
They are an MOT item They only need to be changed if there's an issue - Noise, freeplay etc.
If it aint broke...
As for seized parts if you change them on 100k miles then shouldn't be too bad... Plus the connessiour would appreciate the preventative maintenance
Welshbeef said:
blank said:
You'll have to remove quite a few (normally seized and therefore tricky and likely to lead to more problems) components to change them.
They only need to be changed if there's an issue - Noise, freeplay etc.
If it aint broke...
They are an MOT item They only need to be changed if there's an issue - Noise, freeplay etc.
If it aint broke...
As for seized parts if you change them on 100k miles then shouldn't be too bad... Plus the connessiour would appreciate the preventative maintenance
blank said:
You're clearly insane and have never attempted to change a wheel bearing.
Lol correct. My old man however changed all four wheel bearings on a mk4 Golf GT TDI on the drive without a press.... Took him the whole weekend. He had never attempted to do it before apart from in a workshop with a press but given his nesrest VW dealer wouldn't just press in the bearings they wanted the whole job ... Well let's say hes strong of mind and sees thugs through ...
Well he made a tool which enabled him to press them in on the car apparently had to make two different types as rear wheels had different access? Anyway it is possible (that's from a mechanic who had 35 years from 1950's to the early 90's and someone who doesn't call a mechanic someone who cannot diagnose without computer says it's x. He uses his e perisnce common sense and actual mechanic skill sadly lost these days.
He even repairs the electric window motors changing the bushes etc rather than throw away - basically someone who grew up in the repair age rather than throwaway culture.
Welshbeef said:
blank said:
You're clearly insane and have never attempted to change a wheel bearing.
Lol correct. My old man however changed all four wheel bearings on a mk4 Golf GT TDI on the drive without a press.... Took him the whole weekend. He had never attempted to do it before apart from in a workshop with a press but given his nesrest VW dealer wouldn't just press in the bearings they wanted the whole job ... Well let's say hes strong of mind and sees thugs through ...
Well he made a tool which enabled him to press them in on the car apparently had to make two different types as rear wheels had different access? Anyway it is possible (that's from a mechanic who had 35 years from 1950's to the early 90's and someone who doesn't call a mechanic someone who cannot diagnose without computer says it's x. He uses his e perisnce common sense and actual mechanic skill sadly lost these days.
He even repairs the electric window motors changing the bushes etc rather than throw away - basically someone who grew up in the repair age rather than throwaway culture.
Tunku said:
That's good going. Old school stuff always has a workaround. I was looking at the wheel bearings on my 2001 V70 when I was replacing the disks etc. The wheel bearings appear to be in a bolt on cassette of their own. Am I right?, and is this the new way? Seems easy to unbolt the lot, throw it away and bolt in a new one. Seems a good idea to me. I must admit to not having factored in the cost of the replacement unit though.
I believe mums Mondeo is the same, plug and play.HustleRussell said:
Welshbeef- if you want to be particularly kind to your car, replace the bearings in axle pairs. They give plenty of warning when they're knackred but they could have 50k plus left in them so replacing all four at a predetermined interval is definite overkill.
Is it generally the driven wheel bearings which go first or the fronts due to more average weight put through them?carmadgaz said:
Tunku said:
That's good going. Old school stuff always has a workaround. I was looking at the wheel bearings on my 2001 V70 when I was replacing the disks etc. The wheel bearings appear to be in a bolt on cassette of their own. Am I right?, and is this the new way? Seems easy to unbolt the lot, throw it away and bolt in a new one. Seems a good idea to me. I must admit to not having factored in the cost of the replacement unit though.
I believe mums Mondeo is the same, plug and play.When PH car owners say they carry out preventative maintenance does that include changing wheel bearings due to age or and milage even if they are still serviceable or only the case on certain things?
I'm guessing if your a Ferrari owner wheel bearings are replaced at under 50k as firstly they have te cash to do so and secondly you always want the best condition parts in the car
I'm guessing if your a Ferrari owner wheel bearings are replaced at under 50k as firstly they have te cash to do so and secondly you always want the best condition parts in the car
Welshbeef said:
blank said:
You're clearly insane and have never attempted to change a wheel bearing.
Lol correct. My old man however changed all four wheel bearings on a mk4 Golf GT TDI on the drive without a press.... Took him the whole weekend. He had never attempted to do it before apart from in a workshop with a press but given his nesrest VW dealer wouldn't just press in the bearings they wanted the whole job ... Well let's say hes strong of mind and sees thugs through ...
Well he made a tool which enabled him to press them in on the car apparently had to make two different types as rear wheels had different access? Anyway it is possible (that's from a mechanic who had 35 years from 1950's to the early 90's and someone who doesn't call a mechanic someone who cannot diagnose without computer says it's x. He uses his e perisnce common sense and actual mechanic skill sadly lost these days.
He even repairs the electric window motors changing the bushes etc rather than throw away - basically someone who grew up in the repair age rather than throwaway culture.
And I'd say it's unfair to say a mechanic that uses a computer isn't a mechanic. The computer is just another way to diagnose, along with your ears, hands and eyes. What peoples, mechanics, garage owners and customers get lulled into is this attitude where, the computer can fix it. I always follow the rule, use the computer to find the area the problem is, use live tests to find the particular issue and use a scope to confirm.
Anyway, I digress, back to wheel bearings. Don't change if they ain't broke.
Welshbeef said:
HustleRussell said:
Welshbeef- if you want to be particularly kind to your car, replace the bearings in axle pairs. They give plenty of warning when they're knackred but they could have 50k plus left in them so replacing all four at a predetermined interval is definite overkill.
Is it generally the driven wheel bearings which go first or the fronts due to more average weight put through them?For me preventative maintenance is the replacement of lifed components which are working fine but their failure could result in sudden and significant damage, I.e. replacing a thermostat and water pump while carrying out a coolant flush, replacing belts, belt tensioners and idlers when carrying out engine work, replacing seals and bearings when you have access because of other repairs (like replacing a clutch release bearing or concentric slave cylinder when you are changing a clutch).
Wheel bearings, on the other hand, can be a nasty job and might not be necessary for several more years. Furthermore, when they begin to fail you'll have plenty of warning!
Welshbeef said:
Is it generally the driven wheel bearings which go first or the fronts due to more average weight put through them?
Every time I have seen them go for the first time it has been the rears, even on fwd cars.Over 80k on most newish cars and you are in the window, it depends a lot on usage and such though. They make a hell of a noise when they are shagged if you leave it and one goes.
FisiP1 said:
Every time I have seen them go for the first time it has been the rears, even on fwd cars.
Over 80k on most newish cars and you are in the window, it depends a lot on usage and such though. They make a hell of a noise when they are shagged if you leave it and one goes.
My experience with bearings on oldish FWD VWs is that they have meaty double roller bearings at the front and weedy single ball bearings at the back. Fronts are hours to replace, rears are minutes!Over 80k on most newish cars and you are in the window, it depends a lot on usage and such though. They make a hell of a noise when they are shagged if you leave it and one goes.
maniac0796 said:
All well and good, but in a garage, the cost of time and labour vs the price of a new bit generally goes in favour of the new bit.
And I'd say it's unfair to say a mechanic that uses a computer isn't a mechanic. The computer is just another way to diagnose, along with your ears, hands and eyes. What peoples, mechanics, garage owners and customers get lulled into is this attitude where, the computer can fix it. I always follow the rule, use the computer to find the area the problem is, use live tests to find the particular issue and use a scope to confirm.
Anyway, I digress, back to wheel bearings. Don't change if they ain't broke.
Agreed cost of labour would make doing what my old man did on the drive not viable. However he is retired so time is "free" in fact I'd go as far to say even though he complained and grumbled doing it he really enjoyed the challenge to think through the problem and engineer the desired outcome. And I'd say it's unfair to say a mechanic that uses a computer isn't a mechanic. The computer is just another way to diagnose, along with your ears, hands and eyes. What peoples, mechanics, garage owners and customers get lulled into is this attitude where, the computer can fix it. I always follow the rule, use the computer to find the area the problem is, use live tests to find the particular issue and use a scope to confirm.
Anyway, I digress, back to wheel bearings. Don't change if they ain't broke.
Personally unless unemployed with nothing to do I'd say change the lot you may as well even if it's marginally more £ to do so as clearly your getting all the benefits of brand new other parts crazy to reject that scenario and only do the bearings instead of the whole lot.
As for te computers and non mechanics... I've heard of far too many horror stories from Merc to BMW to VW ad the rest to realise there are idiots working in some of these places who do not deserve to be called mechanics.
I recall one time a gril I used to know had a AX 1.4ltr or bigger it broke down a Mwrc garage mechanic was a work mates brother so she called him. He looked at it for the cost of £50 cash in hand on the weekend and diagnosed it as blown head gasket. He told her change it ASAP as the engine will die in a few k miles. So she did just that she upgraded to a 1ltr version of her car base spec too for nearly &1k more.
On the way to pick up the car she broke down and she dreaded the fact her Head gasket may have gone and dead engine.... Well AA came out and within 5 mins had identified it was an air lock in the coolant system and bleed it. He confided zero damage had been done and car was fine no need to change. Sadly she had paid a deposit so she lost >£1k from a merc mechanic who was apparently very experienced...
Ive easily 10 other stories from the last 5-6 years from people I know closely or work with then who have had this.
Note I'm not a mechanic but I asked her what the problem was she described it and I said it sounds like an air lock in coolant system- that was before the merc mechanic cost her £1k.
With computers mechanics get lazy plug it in oh it's that job done. Thy don't listen to the customer or think about it in my experience. Hence I'd rather a 60year old mechanic with 30 years experience over some chap with his computer says no problem when I as a customer describe the problem they are stuffed... The 30year experience would take the customer feedback of the problem and work it out. That's a better mechanic.
It's a shame you don't get that experience and ads in computer guidance when it could be one or another part that's failed
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