Bye Bye wheel bearings

[Hooligan]

FYI: just removed my stock muffler and put my Bassani duals. The stock muffler does NOT have a static strap, where the 2006 did. If I would have noticed that before, I would have removed it from the 2006 and reinstalled it.

[starchild1043]

this is my first post. was a reader of the forum four years ago when I was in the market to purchase my new car. well four years later, I just made my last payment on a 2004 PT Cruiser GT. only have 16000 miles at this point 'cause I use public transportation to commute to work.

just had the oil changed (still do it every three months regardless of mileage) and inspection. my mechanic, who we've been using for over 20 years, tells me the front hub bearings are loose and will eventually have to be replaced. being I am beyond the 3 year warranty, I will find out if it is covered under my car insurance policy.

but why does this happen if I almost never drive the car?

[CREWZIN]

Originally Posted by starchild1043

but why does this happen if I almost never drive the car?

Welcome to the forum. First, I'm almost sure you insurance policy won't cover your wheel bearings. If it does, let me know what kind you have.

As far as WHY the bearing failed at only 16K, they shouldn't. Reading all the posts on this and other forums has led me to believe that Chrysler of Mexico got a hold of a cheap supplier of parts during their cost cutting years, either that or the plant forgot to grease the bearings before installation. None of that can be proved of course but it makes you wonder why certain years had so many wheel bearings and bushings go bad while other years (my 2001 with 94K and others) haven't had a bit of suspension trouble.

All that rambling on doesn't help you a bit and since you don't have the extended warranty, you'll have to replace the bearing out of your own pocket.

[starchild1043]

thanks for the reply CREWZIN. you are probably right about chrysler of mexico. when I think about it, it is an american car from a german company that was built it in mexico.

will let you if I have any sort of coverage...

[wasmussen]

Mine being a Mexican made car also per the VIN number code makes me think it will go out too per what Crewzin mentions about Mexico and it's supplier. It is a 2007 though and will that make a difference? Did they realize in time that some parts on this car are junk and put in better parts or am I dreaming again? If I go to the dealer and tell them to inspect my wheel bearings because I know there is a bad problem with them will they charge me. Mine has 22,791 miles on it.

[CREWZIN]

As I mentioned. Not everyone has suspension problems. The plant in Mexico could have gotten a supply of bad wheel bearings or bushings or a lack of supervision upon the installation of them. Only a guess at this point. I do know that there are thousands upon thousands of PT that don't have any problem with these parts, including mine ( knock on wood) with 94,000 miles on the odometer.

Don't go looking for problems that aren't there but do have the undercarriage, and front suspension checked out at the next service. It's called Preventive Maintenance.

[wasmussen]

Thanks crewzin for the info. Seems that as mad as some are on here about their Pt Cruisers..preventative maintenance is called never getting one to begin with!

Any car you get these days have specific problems that are unique to that car.

I like the post though about buying and American car that is from a German company but made in Mexico.

Take a trip to Canada and buy a souvenir of Canada made in China. A shirt with a picture of Canada on it made in Pakistan but printed in Korea.
Sleep in a hotel built by Mexican/South American immigrants and come back home to the US where hardly anything is American made unless you watch it on TV with the guy from Cheers who was the mailman,John Ratzenberger.

[starchild1043]

just spoke with the shop, the car is up on the lift and they are trying to figure out which hub bearing they need...

will keep you update if it will cost me out of pocket or only a $250 deductible...

[starchild1043]

well, GEICO covered the repair under the mechanical breakdown insurance of my policy, minus, of course, $250 deductible. its just like an extended warranty but only costs $60 per year up to 7 years/100,000 miles.

[towncrier1]

most of the pt cruiser owners that I have talked with about this subject have stated that they had to replace wheel bearings, many at low mileage. The one common factor was the ground strap between the chasis and the front end.
Also one other thing, I have full chrome wheels on my cruiser. At 55,000 miles (now my car has 66,000) I experienced the front tires loosing air like a slow leak.
I went to the dealer said it was the chrome wheels that were corroded. The told me that it was out of warrantee so I would have to pay to have the wheels fixed. So, I rode around refilling the tires until I needed new ones. Then I had my own mech replace the tires , btu, first he sanded out the corrosion on the wheels and put rubber glue on the rims, mounted the new tires and I haven't had any trouble