$680 for front wheel bearing replacement?

[Qxxx4]

is that right?

midas quoted me 3.5 hrs labour$150 parts

i gotta put about 500 miles on it before i can get my buddy to fix it for me, is it ok? i can BARELY hear the wheel bearing but i nvr heard it before i put the new 20's on and after 40kms on the 20's i can hear it up to 40kmh until the wheels goin fast...

id just like to know if its ok to be doing those 500 highway miles next weekend still... thanks

[hospitalbuilder]

Can they be re-packed? I had mine re-packed when I had the timing belt changed and brakes done a few years ago. I believe that service cost me about $1,200 for everything. Since then however I had to replace some wheel studs, which basically required me to follow the steps for taking the hub apart and exposing the bearings. I went ahead and re-packed them when I had it apart. Replacement requires four bearings (two for each wheel), two seals and some grease. So the price tag on the parts seems high, but admittedly I have never purchased the whee bearings.

I don't know what type of damage you could do by driving another 500 miles. I came to learn that mine were shot when I bought it and I had not noticed anything, except it was a MUCH smoother ride when I had the work completed. The guy at the shop told me they were really dry and was surprised I had not noticed anything. I guess I was used to a rough ride from the Explorer I was replacing. It's all relative, but I probably put many more than 500 miles on dry bearings and having them re-packed made them good as new. YRMV of course.

In case you are interested, here is a site with the procedure I followed for my work. It's labor intensive, but not too difficult. The site is for an Xterra, but worked for my 99Q.

http://rkrenn.com/xterra/howto/bearing/bearing.htm

[Qxxx4]

thanks for the info!! i think i might as well put new bearings though if my friends going to be taking that all apart. He said ill be fine theres no danger and i can do the road trip. I dont get any vibrations or anything, the rides smooth and straight its perfect, just a little hum between 0-40kmh then its not noticeable above that. It might even be the tire...maybe the guy didnt align his truck before..but the tires look brand new! as long as its ok to drive next weekend and back i can replace them after woohoo

[fueler]

get a 2nd opinion

i once got an alignment plus repacked the wheel bearings and spent around $300 and that included a rental car for a day

[Qxxx4]

get a 2nd opinion

i once got an alignment plus repacked the wheel bearings and spent around $300 and that included a rental car for a day

i dunno about repacking, id have a better piece of mind with brand new bearings. im getting my friend to do it for me anyways and he can get me cheaper prices and his labour is...well whatever i want to pay him lol usually really good cuz its cash money and beer.

Im going to get him to check it out though. He cant work on my car until after NEXT weekend meaning ill be driving to windsor and back (200 miles each way) next weekend and to school/wrk/other the next 2 weeks....so hopefully itll be ok. Theres no vibrations, cars rolling smooth and straight, its perfect. just that small hum as the wheel turns....its only on part of the wheels revolution...like a hum half the time....odd. it might not even be the bearings, but they are due to be changed soon anyways. I dont know what else it could be...its not rubbing. maybe the tread was on a misaligned truck and its wearing in like my rollerblade wheels do when i rotate them ahahaha

but yeah wheels are fine, got them balanced and got an alignment done on the truck

[SnowSurfLax]

You'll be fine, even with the new wheels. I ran on my front left bearing for a couple thousand miles with it howling like a banshee. They make more noise than actual damage.

When you can't hear yourself think anymore, then you need to park it.

G/L!

[Qxxx4]

You'll be fine, even with the new wheels. I ran on my front left bearing for a couple thousand miles with it howling like a banshee. They make more noise than actual damage.

When you can't hear yourself think anymore, then you need to park it.

G/L!

ahahaha thanks for your input! yeah everyones saying not to worry and i really cant hear it unless i turn the volume to 0. i drove a friend today and he didnt hear it until i pointed it out. Im still gunna get my mechanic to drive it before i set off to windsor next weekend, just in case. then hell fix it when i get back...i like my things mint and in order.

btw.....MORE COWBELL!!!

[Qxxx4]

In my annoyance of the wheel bearings and my busy a** mechanic being...well...busy...i called up canadian tire!! and the nice gentleman over there quoted me

ballpark $250-$270 labourparts $50

compared to midas...Parts $150labour $530

seeing that wheel bearings are relatively simple and not motor related...ima go ahead and go to canadian tire tommorow morning...what do you think??? I really just want to get rid of the noise

[SnowSurfLax]

If you can't hear it unless the radio is off, you probably only need a repack.

Ask to have them inspect it and then show you the bearing. If it looks bad, replace it. Otherwise it's good.