2001 SE 4X4; looking for opinions on when to repack front wheel bearings

[Brian B]

I'm just coming up on the 60K miles mark, and the recommended maintenance schedule calls for repacking the front wheel bearings.

I live in SoCal, and don't spend any time at all fording streams (I can't even remember SEEING any!). I'm not even off-road all that much.

This is about a $400 item around here, so obviously I don't want to throw my money away needlessly. My last Pathy, a '95 XE 4X4, went its whole life -- over 200K miles -- without it ever being done.

As a matter of fact, I've had a 1600 Roadster, a 2000 Roadster, a 240Z, a 280Z, and never repacked the front wheel bearings on any of them. And never had a single problem.

Does anybody have any thoughts on this? Is there something I'm maybe missing that would justify doing it at this time on THIS particular model?

[MagicM]

my old 01Le pathfinder had 210,000 kilometers on it before i sold it (131250 miles) and i never had that done. Went off roading a couple of times and it ran perfectly fine to me.

[Brian B]

Thanks, Magic!

Your experience reinforces my own thoughts and experience.

I suspect this is one of those items they recommend having done at some point, and stick it in at the 60K mile point because that's as high as the chart goes.

[fueler]

60k u should be just fine! Notice that there are never questions about wheel bearing problems here on the nissan message boards. They dont typically encounter prioblems, especially if you dont drive through saltwater rivers and streams every week.

My advice: wait til your next major brake job and do it then. Its perfect to do at the same time as pulling off the rotors to resurface or replace.

[Brian B]

Thanks, Fueler. Great advice!

I wish I'd thought of this earlier, because I just had a major brake job done 3K miles ago, and of course didn't look ahead at the maintenance schedule.

BTW, you're right on another thing, too. Last night, before posting this question, I went through over 20 pages of comments and questions, and found one thread in which the guy discussed doing his own repack, but he spent quite a bit of time fording water over the hubs. Other than that, nothing.

[fueler]

Yeah ive had my hubs fully submerged in water several times, both fresh and salt water, didnt have any problems. I had them repacked at 140k when i did a brake job, purely as a preventative maintenance.