Poll: Wheel Bearing Replacement

[Redsodapop]

I just replaced the front right bearing at 36,800 miles. The bearing cost me about $40 and another $40 to remove and press the new bearing at Pepboys.

[geronimo]

58k and no bearing replacement... yet.

I've been hearing the grind so the bearings are next on the list.

[Cathy06PT]

MY 2006
AT ONLY 37,400 ..... SAD HUH????? Right after the warr ended!!!!

[love bandit2]

I've been through not one but TWO front wheel bearings on my drivers side. It first went out at 55k miles.. then, just recently, it went out 74k, and was replaced under warranty (since the last one was replaced less than a year ago). I believe a loose tie rod was causing this. That has also been replaced. The mechanic, a good friend of mine, replaced it for $160 the first time, and as I said, it was free the second time.

[THS_Cruiser03]

Originally Posted by lakersfan1

If the wheel bearings are seriously that big of an issue, I think if I ever had to have them replaced, I'd just step up to the best built bearing out there from the get-go and skip the Chrysler branded or other cheapo brands. IMO, the Timken bearings that Autozone carries have been very beefy and well built in all my past experiences with them ..... for everything for pilot bearings, strut bearings, wheel bearings, throw-out bearings .... you name it.

Hi guys,

As someone who worked for one of the largest world wide bearing mfg. companies (based on Osaka Japan) I can talk with a bit of experience when it comes to wheel bearings.

First off, todays (front wheel drive) wheel bearings are way more complicated assemblies than the simple tapered roller bearings from teh 70's and 80's. Today the bearings are usuall two or three piece desings with twin ball bearing raceways. The outer ring usually has mounting point to connect to the suspension parts, the inner ring (or spindle ring) is a large piece which rotates inside the bearing and has a large diameter flange which holds the wheel studs and is the surface the brake rotor mounts on. These assemblys are typically pre-loaded by a large nut on the CV axle shaft.

Secondly, when it comes to bearing quality most of the big boys do it quite well (SKF, NTN, TIMKEN) the parts are super precise and high quality. However like any manufacturing operation - shit happens and less than perfect parts are made sometimes. All the bearings are vibration tested on super sensitive equipment so they KNOW when a batch is bad. As did we....

So when they have A1 grade parts they ALWAYS sell them to the OEM's which they are mfg. for. Everything else (production seconds) goes to the aftermarket distributors (Autozone, Napa, Car quest...etc.). In fact we were even known to send SUPER crappy parts to Mexican distributors for the mexican market.

So my advice, if you want a good bearing is buy it from Chrysler. If you want a so so bearing that might start growling within 20 or 30k buy it from someone else.

Interesting that so many of us with '03 - '04 PT's have had trouble. Mine has 62K now and the LF bearing is howling BAD - especially when it's a cold morning...it can drown out the engine sound.

Chrysler probably knows there is a problem, but typically the OEM is only concerned with the problem if it shows up in significant numbers within the warranty period. Outside of that, unless its a safety issue....we are on our own.

*rats*

<b>UPDATE 5/20/09: LF bearing was bad and noisy since about 55k - Had appointment last week at shop to have the bearings done as well as brakes & installing polyurethane control arm, sway bar, and links bushings. Mechanic said when they did the test drive the LF was so quiet that they heard the RF was already going bad too!

So I had them replace the RF side while the car was still in the shop. Total was $500 for the bearing replacement including parts. OUCH Chrysler! So both bearings done at 66K miles.</b>

[pt4cec]

This is the 2.0 Europe PT engine= Andy

[Hooligan]

Thanks Andy, it doesn't look that much different than ours. I rotated so I could see the PT better thru the wind shield and saw the steering wheel on the opposite side that ours.

[geronimo]

Originally Posted by geronimo

58k and no bearing replacement... yet.

I've been hearing the grind so the bearings are next on the list.

Just ordered bearings and set up an appointment for install. $60 for bearings + $180 install = $240.

Not too bad.

Cheapest mechanic was actually the dealer!
Is hell freezing over?

[crusierdad76]

Originally Posted by pt4cec

This is the 2.0 Europe PT engine= Andy

you know the wipers go the opposite direction of ours as well

[anthony_plumlee]

in the middle of doing that right now my 2001 has 145000 miles and it was the passanger side front