Poll: Wheel Bearing Replacement

[RNetherton]

2004 with 43,000 miles-left front-$300.00

[lt4supr]

As all can see dealers have too much over head and the price for simple things are very high.If you cant do it yourself,find a friend that can.Most of my buddies can do this in very little time. I just changed out a fellow pt ladys front bearings both sides for dinner {ribs} and the 73.00 dollars for the bearings and 44.00 dollars or so for the brake pads and the hour and a half it took.Pads where bad ,i assume there the second set,bearings could have run some more.
I now know my daughters teacher quite well, the 04 limited had 73,000 miles on it.
Ya never know who you'll meet driven a pt.......

[Cal Cruzer]

67,000 and driver side needs doing. I have now had both axles replaced and the bearings need doing. I have never had a car with all of the problems this one has had. I have never had a car with all of the problems I have had with the dealer body either. They are really the bad. I live in a large metro area so I have a choice of many and still cannot find one that is honest.

I keep my cars a long time and keep the maintenance up but these cars are just problem prone it seems. I fully expect to be doing the axles again before I get rid of the car. I am used to driving my cars 150K miles or more before I am done with them, I don't know if this one will make it.

[bsdunek]

2004, 57,125 miles. Left wheel bearing really bad, right starting. Replaced both. Mechanic also found both lower control arm bushings coming out of place, so did those too. Of course needed a realignment.
The problem is, and most agree, Chrysler took the Neon platform and put a bigger, heavier car on it. It just puts a lot of load on the front end. I think they should have beefed it up.

[Teekypt]

Originally Posted by Cathy06PT

The Axles were but not the wheel bearings...because it was 1400 miles over the 3yr/36000 mile warr....i am considering buying the extended warr, but I need to do research first on those.

Dang Cat, yours went out really quick. Hmmmm. That's not cool.

Well yall, haven't had mine replaced yet, at 63,000mi.

[Ellie_Mae]

I know this is an older thread, but I am new to this forum. Just got the link 10 minutes ago.

I have a 2004. Right front bearing gone at 18,700. Everything locked up, so the whole hub assembly had to be replaced. Now, I am at 28,800, and the same one is going out again.

Warranty was out by 30 days with the first one. Dealer kept telling me that even though everything was locked up, they could beat the bearing out and just pop a new one in.

I had my dad fix it..... whole hub assembly, not just the bearing.

Checked at chrysler's website, and it states that there are no complaints or recalls for anything on this car.

If we are all having these things eat wheel bearings, why are they not being recalled?

[lakersfan1]

Is everyone having this problem with Dodge/Chrysler OEM bearings only, or with aftermarket bearings too? Chrylser is the first car I've owned where I would really question the quality of the manufacturer OEM parts over the aftermarket. Personally, if I have a wheel bearing go out, I'm going to buy a Timken or SKF bearing and repack it with synthetic grease.

[vtmdsm27]

The bearings are not that hard to replace. Actually very simple. I've done it on other cars, and I'm about to do it on my Buick Park Avenue. Firestone quoted $269 for bearing, $190 to replace. It takes me less than a hour, and I bought a brand new one of eBay for $69.00.

Anyways, thanks to you guys, I bought the extended warranty for such a time as this.

[Ellie_Mae]

Originally Posted by lakersfan1

Is everyone having this problem with Dodge/Chrysler OEM bearings only, or with aftermarket bearings too? Chrylser is the first car I've owned where I would really question the quality of the manufacturer OEM parts over the aftermarket. Personally, if I have a wheel bearing go out, I'm going to buy a Timken or SKF bearing and repack it with synthetic grease.

In my case, BOTH!
I talked with a friend of mine, this information might help someone else out, too, so I am passing it along...

One thing that he asked when I told him about my bearing problem was "How did the brakes look?" I don't know about anyone here, but my brakes and rotor were SHOT!
--He thinks that it could be a brake problem rather than a bearing problem. Thus, making it an ongoing problem since it's never really fixed.

I am having the brake calliper and brake hose replaced to see if that helps.
--My friend said that it seems as if the brakes are not really releasing, causing the brakes to heat up, screw up the rotor, deplete the bearing of any grease, and making the bearing lock up.

Since this scenario is almost exactly what it looked like in my car, it's worth a look and a lot less expensive to fix.

I'll post back results.

Still think Chrysler should recall the braking system if this is a common thing with these cars.

Has anyone else had a problem under 30,000 miles?

[Craiger]

1 front at 22350, now both still ok at 44500. 05 GT convertible