Wheel Bearing replacement ??
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 170
Likes: 0
From: NH
Wheel Bearing replacement ??
Are you supposed to do wheel alignment after replacing the rear wheel bearing assemblies? I have my mechanic do this to pass inspection and I didnt think to ask him. FSM doesnt seem to mention it as far as I can see and where I didnt do it myself, I am not sure what has to come apart to make the switch.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 3,660
Likes: 22
what?
change wheel bearings to pass inspection? Are they THAT bad?
You change wheel bearing assemblies because they are Worn out.
Then you throw the old ones away... I do not think there is a core on bearing-hub assembly. Maybe.....don't remember.
Front are easy. Rears are more work but anyone with tools and some skills can do it at home in an afternoon. Floor jack tools and jack stands. That's the time to do 4 u-joints too. Since you are already taking the half shafts out, service the u-joints. Total drivetrain service is the right way to maintain these cars since you have to d/c all the same things to do one or the other...
And you always change bearing assys BEFORE alignments. Loose wheels do not align well.
These bearing assys are throw aways...there is no bearing to replace. You change the whole hub assembly. Decent hub assy cost $125 ea if you shop around. OEM sells for as much as $350 ea... Yeah..
You can get Chinese hub assys for $50 but you WILL be changing them again....soon.
change wheel bearings to pass inspection? Are they THAT bad?
You change wheel bearing assemblies because they are Worn out.
Then you throw the old ones away... I do not think there is a core on bearing-hub assembly. Maybe.....don't remember.
Front are easy. Rears are more work but anyone with tools and some skills can do it at home in an afternoon. Floor jack tools and jack stands. That's the time to do 4 u-joints too. Since you are already taking the half shafts out, service the u-joints. Total drivetrain service is the right way to maintain these cars since you have to d/c all the same things to do one or the other...
And you always change bearing assys BEFORE alignments. Loose wheels do not align well.
These bearing assys are throw aways...there is no bearing to replace. You change the whole hub assembly. Decent hub assy cost $125 ea if you shop around. OEM sells for as much as $350 ea... Yeah..
You can get Chinese hub assys for $50 but you WILL be changing them again....soon.
Last edited by leesvet; Jul 15, 2013 at 10:00 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 16,838
Likes: 341
From: Database Error Indiana
My theory is, if the alignment was good before the bearing went bad, it will be good after the new one is installed. If its been eleventy million miles since it was aligned, it needs it done anyway.
Pro
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 628
Likes: 13
From: Indiana
All the wheel alignment adjustments are fastened to the rear knuckle and are used to align it. The bearing hubs fit into a machined area and are self aligning. I agree that if it was aligned properly before then it should be ok. But if it hasn't been checked in eons than get aligned.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 8,735
Likes: 412
From: WV
At alot of shops you can get an "alignment check" for about 1/4 the price of an alignment, then if it needs the full alignment you pay that price..This saves money if you find out your car is within specs and doesn't need the alignment...WW
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 170
Likes: 0
From: NH
I realize that I could have done it myself and its not a hard job, but I just moved my family into a foreclosure and I am trying to reclaim it from nature so time is not something I have a lot of and my garage is currently set up for wood working. I dropped it off at my shop becuase I had the clutch slave sitting in a box for 3 months, another fairly straightforward and easy job I couldnt get to and got sick of having to top off the fluid every week. So I had him do the slave and inspection and check the u joints while he was in there. He told me the wheel bearing had excessive play and he hooks me up with a sticker even though all my emmissions crap is out, so maybe it was just a tax on hooking me up, I dont know. I had it aligned last year when I put new tires on it, and replaced ball joints.
Racer
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 379
Likes: 7
payed $35 pr assembly in the spring, they lasted 3500 easy street miles and needs to be replaced here three months later. You get what you pay for :-)
Last edited by Ronaldo; Jul 16, 2013 at 10:13 AM.
