Wheel bearing needs replacing - how to avoid?

[mikepaul]

For quite a while, I put the noise coming from the left front tire down as tire-related, but last week it became louder than normal so I dropped by the Goodyear dealer who sold me the tires to ask about it. With no time to hang around during the week for a diagnosis, I drove the car past the counter guy and one technician and was told no, it didn't sound like the wheel bearing was bad.

So Saturday when I had time, I waited for a diagnosis. DARN if they didn't say it was the wheel bearing. The bearing listed in the book was NOT the right size to be pressed into the bearing assembly, so now I have to wait until Tuesday for another assembly to be delivered. "Lucky" for me, the whole assembly is only $50 more than the bearing itself.

I asked several technicians and each time, they said this just happens when it happens, no driving technique changes would have prevented it. Is that correct, or is there a reason (hard turns, whatever) it went bad that could have been avoided? I'd prefer to not spend another $450 anytime soon...

[patsparks]

IF your wheel bearings are worn out you have been extremely unlucky or you have very high miles on your car. The bearings are sealed and lubricated for life and normally will out last the car. One thing, which can cause a problem, is if you have had new CV joint boots or joints fitted.

It is possible the hub nut wasn't tightened enough which can cause a knocking noise on hard corners progressing to a knocking noise all the time. The drive shaft moving and the bearing wearing into the hub cause this. If this is the case you need a new hub and bearing.
It can also be that if the front drive shaft has been removed to replace a CV joint or boot some dirt was allowed into the bearing causing accelerated wear.

The best way to listen for wheel bearing noise is to lift the car off the ground and put it in gear allowing the wheels to turn. Because there is no tyre noise a wheel bearing noise will be obvious. A stethoscope can be used to listen directly to the bearing.

[FL_Prius_Driver]

On my 2001, it was the left rear wheel bearing that went. It was just a slowing increasing noise level, till it became too loud to ignore. It is not something you did driving, it was basically a faulty bearing that finally revealed itself.

[mikepaul]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(FL_Prius_Driver @ Sep 30 2007, 09:46 AM) [snapback]519392[/snapback]</div>

On my 2001, it was the left rear wheel bearing that went. It was just a slowing increasing noise level, till it became too loud to ignore. It is not something you did driving, it was basically a faulty bearing that finally revealed itself.
[/b]

I really hate winning the Bad Parts Lottery, but if it wasn't my driving technique then I'll just keep doing what I'm doing and hope.

Thanks...


<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(patsparks @ Sep 30 2007, 02:15 AM) [snapback]519339[/snapback]</div>

IF your wheel bearings are worn out you have been extremely unlucky or you have very high miles on your car. The bearings are sealed and lubricated for life and normally will out last the car. One thing, which can cause a problem, is if you have had new CV joint boots or joints fitted.

It is possible the hub nut wasn't tightened enough which can cause a knocking noise on hard corners progressing to a knocking noise all the time. The drive shaft moving and the bearing wearing into the hub cause this. If this is the case you need a new hub and bearing.
It can also be that if the front drive shaft has been removed to replace a CV joint or boot some dirt was allowed into the bearing causing accelerated wear.

The best way to listen for wheel bearing noise is to lift the car off the ground and put it in gear allowing the wheels to turn. Because there is no tyre noise a wheel bearing noise will be obvious. A stethoscope can be used to listen directly to the bearing.
[/b]

This is the first time there's been any need to repair the drivetrain, so any help in killing the bearing came from the factory.

I was told that the right-side bearing was stethescoped and nothing bad was heard. Yet.

Thanks...

[Ari]

On my BMW (which was replaced by a Prius) I got a bad wheel bearing around 150k miles. Replaced the bearing and then drove another 100k miles without any of the others going bad. It's one of those things that should last the life of the vehicle, but everything mechanical is prone to breaking.

[Interesting]

You can get the bearing assembly from hoy toyota-lexus in texas for about half that.

[galaxee]

wheel bearings don't go often, sorry you won the "bad parts lottery" because that's pretty much what happened here. most of the time they will go the life of the car, but they are moving parts and therefore subject to failure like everything else.

[RunnerCNY]

With 75,000 on my 2005 Prius, both front wheel bearings went. The extended warranty is starting to pay off. So I also lost the bad parts lottery.

[ceric]

This shows how nice this Toyota Platinum ext warranty is.
With most other ext warranty, bearings are not covered since they fall into the category
of "tear and wear".

[Devil's Advocate]

Not much you can do in your driving technique to avoid a wheel bearing going bad.

The place in Texas, Hoy Toyota, can get you the part way cheaper. I had a bearing go out at 110,000 (front left) and got a replacement for about $150.00. Installed myself. Pretty easy install. The only challenge was the pressed on dust shield and making sure it was re-mounted correctly.