News Just realized my wheel bearing is bad!

Just realized my wheel bearing is bad!

For about half a month, I noticed a slight vibration and slight pulling to the left. My car would make a horrible screeching noise sometimes when I turned left. I thought it was a dragging brake pad, but apparently not. I jacked the diver's side front up and shook the wheel which should have no free play. It wobbled all over the place. This fix won't be cheap. My new suspension will have to wait even longer now...

Hopefully, this will be the new one to replace it.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/e...Track=true&ssPageName=VIP:Watchlink:middle:us

i think it'd be like around 150ish?

It's about $75 in parts and labor if you pull out the part and bring it into a shop.

Oh, I see. I was expecting a 300 dollar downfall.

not unless you have the shop do all the labor.

oops, i forgot to factory in the cost of a alignment afterwards.

I'm expecting around 200. I'll be supplying my own parts. Yeah, and alignment. But it's about time I get it done anyways.

The thing is a wheel bearing only cost like $22. its all labor from there.

why would you need an alignment after replacing a wheel bearing?

because you need to unbolt the hub/carrier from the strut and control arm to get the wheel bearing pressed out.

Ok, I'm calling a mechanic first thing in the morning.

What tool is involved to press out a wheel bearing? Can't you change the wheel bearing yourself?

I could but I wouldn't trust the quality of my work, considering I've never done this before.

I was quoted 185 + tax. I'm going to get another quote from another mechanic and see if I can source the part for cheaper.

yeah i was quoted around 150ish but thats because i always go to that guy.
wish i knew how to repack my own wheel bearings. what tools would ya need?

http://www.diynetwork.com/diy/ab_talk2diy/article/0,,DIY_13696_3036628,00.html

http://autorepair.about.com/cs/doityourself/a/bl_wh_bearing1.htm

oh, over the several ive done, its never thrown the alignment out.

But I should get an alignment done nonetheless. It's been a while since the last one.

You don't need anything special to remove the hub/carrier assembly but you do need a hydraulic press to remove and install the bearing. A good press hydraulic press run about 1K+ and you normally wouldn't get much use from it unless you spend your day pressing out bushings, rebuilding trannys, and changing wheel bearings. That's why you need to at least take that part to a shop. That's what I usually do to save some monies.

You might be right, I always assumed every time you unbolt the strut you throw your alignment off.

or maybe ive been lucky.

it never hurts to check on the alignment. but from my experience if you are placing the same component back in (strut assembly) then there wont be a change.

Damn that sucks.

make sure you get the bearing with abs if your car has abs. i learned that the hard way.

but abs-less is the way to go.

why would you not want abs?

ABS actually increases braking distance. But as we all know, it has no control when it locks up. I don't have ABS so I can't pick here anyways. LOL Did 8th gens have available ABS? I have an LE and I'm pretty sure I don't have it.

no it doesnt.

not only does it allow you to apply full braking pressure without the risk of locking up the wheels, its creates a much safer braking situation.

i like to play in ma backyard. actually i do have abs but the fuse is blown so its not working.

an experienced driver doesnt need abs anyway. you can feel when its about to lock up.

yes thats why they call me "feety pablo" and im totally serious about that name.

Hmm I've heard differently from mechanics. I've heard it increases from some and remains the same with others.

it used to be that when ABS wasn't as good, people preferred no ABS but now with technology, ABS is a lot better. instead of applying the brakes equally on both sides, it can apply more on one side depending on the terrain for a split second to further help with better braking. Thats why most GT cars, track cars, rally cars all are using ABS since they are a lot more reliable than in the past. BUT, learning how to brake with no ABS is always good.

I just learned 8th gens did not come with ABS from factory unless specified. So I guess I can go ahead and order non-ABS wheel bearings then.