Wheel Bearings...again
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 4,979
Likes: 5
From: San Diego, CA "leaf" "tee" "e"
Wheel Bearings...again
My rear left wheel has been making noises, and from my reading here I'm quite sure it's the wheel bearing going out. It's kind of like a "tsk...tsk" sound that I hear only when I have my windows down at low speeds in a quiet neighborhood, and it helps if I'm driving next to a wall or something to reflect the sound back to me. It doesn't happen all the time, but occurs most often after the car has been driven for a while. It's been getting louder over time too.
In some old posts someone recommended the Timken rear wheel bearings as an alternative to the dealership bearings. The old posts said the Timken bearings cost ~$220, but they didn't give a part #. Yesterday I gave Autozone a call, and they told me the Timken rear wheel bearing / hub assembly part # 512153 was going to cost $126.99. Is that right? I also checked out Napa, and their Chicago Rawhide rear wheel bearing / hub assembly part # BR930024. That would be awesome if both places are now cheaper than they used to be! Has anyone tried the Chicago Rawhide part out?
In some old posts someone recommended the Timken rear wheel bearings as an alternative to the dealership bearings. The old posts said the Timken bearings cost ~$220, but they didn't give a part #. Yesterday I gave Autozone a call, and they told me the Timken rear wheel bearing / hub assembly part # 512153 was going to cost $126.99. Is that right? I also checked out Napa, and their Chicago Rawhide rear wheel bearing / hub assembly part # BR930024. That would be awesome if both places are now cheaper than they used to be! Has anyone tried the Chicago Rawhide part out?
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 18,016
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From: sebring florida
Re: Wheel Bearings...again (leaftye)
$126 sounds about right for the timkens. I tried like crazy to get some but couldn't find them anywhere. the rear left was teh first to go on my car, then the front left. if you've got a line on where to buy the timkens, let me know because I know my right side will go out sooner than later.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 1,764
Likes: 31
From: Fort Collins CO
Re: Wheel Bearings...again (connecticut)
The Timken prices sound just about right. I did all four of mine a month or so ago. The Timken bearing was visually indistinguishable from the ones that came out of my '97.
Links to the removal/install procedure that some fellow wrote up here here:
http://www.jakelatham.com/c5/misc/
I followed that, basically, and it worked quite well. You can rent the 34mm axle socket and pickle for for the ball joints from Autozone as well.
It's an easy job - doesn't take very long at all. If your axle nuts are rusted a bit, you might try shooting some WD-40 on them the night before to help seep in a bit.
-Jake
Links to the removal/install procedure that some fellow wrote up here here:
http://www.jakelatham.com/c5/misc/
I followed that, basically, and it worked quite well. You can rent the 34mm axle socket and pickle for for the ball joints from Autozone as well.
It's an easy job - doesn't take very long at all. If your axle nuts are rusted a bit, you might try shooting some WD-40 on them the night before to help seep in a bit.
-Jake
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 18,016
Likes: 0
From: sebring florida
Re: Wheel Bearings...again (connecticut)
i have a 98 m6 w/ 99k how do you know if they're good or bad?
Instructor
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 183
Likes: 0
From: San Jose CA
Re: Wheel Bearings...again (leaftye)
You could have been writing this post to the C4 forum. The C4 wheel bearings were a lousy design and wore out quickly the same way as you describe. I would have to replace the left rear at least once a year. The others frequently but less often. It seems Chevy didn't learn anything even after wheel bearing failure was the biggest C4 owner complaint. FYI the Timken and Chicago Rawhide bearing are one and the same. The C5 prices are approximately $25 less than the C4 prices. You can get them at PEP Boys with a lifetime guarantee.
Larry
Larry
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 4,979
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From: San Diego, CA "leaf" "tee" "e"
Re: Wheel Bearings...again (larrybsp)
Thanks all for the info! Hopefully I can find them. I'm just planning on making an order at Autozone or Pep Boys (lifetime warranty eh?) and wait till they come in. My bearings aren't that bad yet, but I'm just trying to fix all the little problems that have been bugging me over the past year.
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Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 4,979
Likes: 5
From: San Diego, CA "leaf" "tee" "e"
Re: Wheel Bearings...again (Red Gump)
$126 sounds about right for the timkens. I tried like crazy to get some but couldn't find them anywhere. the rear left was teh first to go on my car, then the front left. if you've got a line on where to buy the timkens, let me know because I know my right side will go out sooner than later.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 1,764
Likes: 31
From: Fort Collins CO
Re: Wheel Bearings...again (leaftye)
$126 sounds about right for the timkens. I tried like crazy to get some but couldn't find them anywhere. the rear left was teh first to go on my car, then the front left. if you've got a line on where to buy the timkens, let me know because I know my right side will go out sooner than later.
Did you try ordering them? I just got back from Autozone where I placed an order, and they should be ready to pick up after work on Friday.
Did you try ordering them? I just got back from Autozone where I placed an order, and they should be ready to pick up after work on Friday.
IM me if anybody wants it...
-Jake
