L322 front wheel bearing change

[CAPP0]

Anyone done this? I have access to a 12-15t press which I understand is a pre-requisite!

The bearing is about £20 (FAG) or £50 (OEM) but my local indie want £330 to do the job. And I might need both done. Is it really such a ball ache that £330 is well worth it, or should I break out the spanners?

[camel_landy]

Depends on how handy you are with the spanners but it sounds like they can be a bit of a sod!

M

[CAPP0]

I'm OK with the spanners but I don't want the job to break me (physically or metaphorically!)

Edited by CAPP0 on Wednesday 3rd May 19:16

[camel_landy]

If both need doing, £330 sounds reasonable to me by the time you've deducted the cost of the parts.

M

[Hainey]

I've done them before and you do need that press, also a high value torque wrench (430nm) etc so there is a bit of investment in tools there for a start that the average home mechanic probably isn't going to have

Its not particuarly challenging but it is time consuming. One I did I think it was a Timken brand bearing I put in as the owner assured me that was the OEM supplier but thats third hand so treat it as such. I've used FAG before without issue, I think they are good bearings.

One thing, the nut is inch and quarter, not 32mm. I've seen some botch jobs with a 32mm socket before. Dont do that!

Good luck.

[CAPP0]

camel_landy said:

If both need doing, £330 sounds reasonable to me by the time you've deducted the cost of the parts.

M

No, that was £330 per side! And you know how difficult it is to tell which side it's coming from sometimes?

I haven't got a torque wrench that strong but £660 would probably buy me one!

[camel_landy]

CAPP0 said:

No, that was £330 per side!

Ahh... That puts a different slant on it then!

Have a read through the workshop manual, see what that says and get a list of tools. At least if you do one side at a time, you have the option of taking it to the garage if you can't face doing the other side.

Also, depending on the amount of life left in them, I'd be tempted to do the disks & pads at the same time. Have a look at the condition of the calliper pistons too.

M