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Wheel Bearing Failure?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by 72fordgts, Nov 16, 2014.

  1. 72fordgts

    72fordgts Member

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    Since the Prius is my wife's primary car, I can go a long time without driving. I recently have been driving it more, and it seems to me that it has the sounds of a failing wheel bearing. Between about 30-40 MPH there seems to be a distinct rotational noise that sounds to me like a loud wheel bearing from the front end. The sound seems to get quieter as I go faster, and at 60 mph + it seems normal.

    My wife didn't notice any difference, but she drives the car everyday so maybe she didn't notice the gradual increase in noise. I know it's not tire related, because I just swapped tires. When I did, I didn't feel any play in the front bearings or feel any roughness when the wheels were rotated.

    Anyone have a bearing failure on a Gen III? Ours has about 85K miles on it now. Any one replaced one before? Are they a pressed bearing or a hub/bearing assembly that can be replaced as a unit?
     
  2. spiderman

    spiderman wretched

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    I just recently replaced the rears at 60K miles. The noise was gradual and finally this summer when my dad (at 80 with need of hearing aids) said it was too loud, ,I finally looked into it. Both the rears were shot. The fronts seem fine but I am going to look at them again next summer.

    Here is my thread on the rears: Rear wheel bearings | PriusChat

    I imagine the fronts would be more difficult but before you assume they are the problem, check the rears. There are others that have had them go.
     
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  3. 72fordgts

    72fordgts Member

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    Thanks for the reply Spiderman. I didn't check the rears, but now that I see your thread I will. I can't believe how pricey these bearings are, but at least they are very easy to install. I have done this repair many times on other types of vehicles. For the price of the bearing, I am a little disappointed that it only lasted 85K.

    Did you notice any change in MPG's after the bearing change? I have noticed our car has been using more fuel lately.

    Any other advice is appreciated.
     
  4. GrGramps

    GrGramps Active Member

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    Being a bit older than Spiderman's dad, I will make an observation. "When you've been around long enough your wheel bearings will last longer."

    I find that on those days that I leave the hearing aids home my car is so quiet.;)
     
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  5. bestmapman

    bestmapman 04, 07 ,08, 09, 10, 16, 21 Prime

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    I just replaced my first wheel bearing on the passenger side rear at 175,000. All the others are still good for now.
     
  6. spiderman

    spiderman wretched

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    I didn't get a chance to compare mileage because I had to switch to my snow tires half way through the tank. On the other hand I had not not seen a decrease over the last year and a half the noise had been around...
     
  7. spiderman

    spiderman wretched

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    So how hard was it?
     
  8. 72fordgts

    72fordgts Member

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    I would be happy with that kind of life span out of a wheel bearing. My old truck had 250K on original bearings, and they were dirt cheap to replace.

    Thanks for the helpful responses.
     
  9. bestmapman

    bestmapman 04, 07 ,08, 09, 10, 16, 21 Prime

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    It was a lot easier than I thought. There are a couple of great youtube videos and I just followed them. It took about 2 hours. The OEM hub was about $250 maybe a little more.
     
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  10. 72fordgts

    72fordgts Member

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    Can you share the links to the videos if you still have them?
     
  11. bestmapman

    bestmapman 04, 07 ,08, 09, 10, 16, 21 Prime

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  12. neez

    neez Member

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    Holy crap that's expensive. Are there any aftermarket alternatives for less??

    In general, i'm a high mileage commuter, it's not uncommon for a small car to have wheel bearings go out under 100k miles. I have them replaced all the time in all my past vehicles which have all been cars of similar size. I think the main reason are the smaller overall diameter tires, combined with a smaller diameter hub. Not only do the wheels spin faster than a larger vehicle, but the hub is smaller with less mass so the heat dissapation or lack thereof compounds the problem.

    Does your wife drive alot of highway??
     
  13. GregP507

    GregP507 Senior Member

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    I'd be checking it more than talking about it.
     
  14. mypriuscious

    mypriuscious Member

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    I've had to replace wheel bearings on every car I've owned. I changed a friend's brake pads once and she called me two months later saying they were grinding already and I thought, that's not possible! Showed up, drove her car around the parking lot and she had a horrible howl like that. Jacked up the car and the wheel was wobbling like crazy.

    But, even if the wheel bearing isn't loose if you hear the bearing starting to grind at very low speeds it's going to bad sooner or later. And I believe most front wheel bearings are pressed in and out.
     
  15. frodoz737

    frodoz737 Top Wrench

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    Thank you for the clips bestmapman. Looks like another easy bearing job. (y)
     
  16. GregP507

    GregP507 Senior Member

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    I've only had a bad wheel bearing once in all the vehicles I've owned, and it was previously-owned. Is your driving-style possibly the reason?
     
  17. frodoz737

    frodoz737 Top Wrench

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    Driving style, mileage, maintenance and environmentals all relate.
     
    #17 frodoz737, Nov 26, 2014
    Last edited: Jan 14, 2015
  18. mypriuscious

    mypriuscious Member

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    I would put it more towards the age of the cars I've owned. As I've typically owned cars that are older. 90's Hondas over the span of 3 years.
     
  19. MattNiem

    MattNiem Junior Member

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    Dragging brake is a great bearing killer (heat), take care of your rear brakes! Low profile tyres and rims with wrong offset can also cause failures.
     
  20. 72fordgts

    72fordgts Member

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    Just an update. The bearing is getting louder. I am hopping to have a chance to pull apart the car to inspect the bearings soon. Toyota wants $220 CDN for a bearing/hub assembly. No brake drag on the car, but the car does see lots of highway driving. We also have pretty nasty winters with lots of salt and sand on the roads.