1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Replace rear wheel bearings at 70,000?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by tedjohnson, Sep 29, 2013.

  1. tedjohnson

    tedjohnson Member

    Joined:
    May 21, 2010
    347
    72
    0
    Location:
    Greenfield MA
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Premium
    It seems there have been a few posts here with rear hub failures apparently due to disintegrating wheel bearings. Our 2010 is approaching 70,000 miles , I wonder if a preemptive change is not in order. Or perhaps Toyota got a few bad bearings that are popping up nad its not a real problem to deal with. Any thoughts? Thanks.
     
  2. rdgrimes

    rdgrimes Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 7, 2013
    1,740
    446
    4
    Location:
    New Mexico, USA
    Vehicle:
    2018 Prius Prime
    Model:
    N/A
    Easy enough to check the end play on the bearing.
     
  3. mrstop

    mrstop PWR Mode

    Joined:
    Jun 22, 2012
    742
    329
    109
    Location:
    Cincinnati, OH
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Unless you have a reason to suspect issues, I wouldn't.
     
  4. Kevine64

    Kevine64 Junior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 9, 2013
    87
    11
    0
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    Just in case they pass a law on everyone having to give me $20. You should be preemtive and just go ahead andsend me $20 now. :)

    Makes sense right?
     
    AllenZ likes this.
  5. tedjohnson

    tedjohnson Member

    Joined:
    May 21, 2010
    347
    72
    0
    Location:
    Greenfield MA
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Premium
    no, not really, a fairly cheap bearing replaced, may save an expensive hub. There is a history of bad bearings ruining hubs, because it really was not obvious to the owner until it got real noisy, then its too late....
     
  6. milkman44

    milkman44 Active Member

    Joined:
    Oct 16, 2011
    591
    386
    0
    Location:
    Ky
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    I think the bearing is not replaceable, have to replace entire hub, mucho bucks.
     
  7. adamace1

    adamace1 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 22, 2009
    1,403
    191
    0
    Location:
    Charlotte, NC
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    yea it's one part. You should know way ahead of time before it is a safety concern.
     
  8. michinnom

    michinnom Member

    Joined:
    Apr 28, 2013
    162
    29
    0
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    N/A

    ya, well said. im sure so many of us understand that. thx
     
  9. edthefox5

    edthefox5 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 25, 2007
    10,096
    4,804
    0
    Location:
    Clearwater, Florida
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Don't waste your time and money. You could go 300K miles and not a have a wb failure. You'll know if the bearing goes bad it will start making a wup wup noise.

    If you want to worry about maintenance start with the trans fluid. Keep on that.
     
    milkman44 likes this.
  10. ETC(SS)

    ETC(SS) The OTHER One Percenter.....

    Joined:
    Oct 28, 2010
    7,744
    6,540
    0
    Location:
    Redneck Riviera (Gulf South)
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Huh?
    I've been an almost daily reader in this forum and I'm not aware of this problem in the G3 (or G2...)
    Of course I guess there could be one or two.....but at 70,000 miles in three years? :eek:
    Lemon - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
    Even if you don't know how to check your rears for excessive play, why stop there????
    You should also replace the radio, the motor, and everybody KNOWS the battery is going to go out!!!
    ...All 3 of them! ;)

    It's pretty easy for me.
    You either trust your car to hang together with normal maintenance for about a hundred and a half or you need to start looking for a different car company to buy cars from.
    Wheel bearing replacements are NOT normal maintenance the last time I checked the schedule.

    Toyota's whole thing is supposed to be dependability, and I believe that they're in the upper third of car companies for overall dependability. If they were supported by a decent dealership network in the SE, and if they didn't up-charge so much for this dependability, I'd have one in my driveway right now.

    My beloved company operates an ever growing fleet of G2's and G3's and I'm aware of their foibles, and those are relatively minor (aux battery, intermittent ICE bucking, backing shudder, glass jaw....)
    I've never herd of the wheel bearing issue, but that does not mean that it doesn't exist.

    If it is a non-replaceable bearing as mentioned above (I don't know either way,) then you REALLY have no reason to tinker with it, since you'll gain nothing by replacing it before it fails.

    Why buy trouble?
     
  11. qdllc

    qdllc Senior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 25, 2013
    1,370
    399
    0
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    If you can do your own wrenching, most all wheels need the bearings checked on occasion. You take them off, thoroughly clean them and let them dry. Then repack them with the proper grease and use new seals. Doing this will have them last a very long time (100K+). Eventually they will fail, and you will know that by the noise they make if you don't see evidence of bearing failure during an inspection. However, doing NO maintenance means they will wear out much sooner than they have to.

    Now, if it's a non-serviceable bearing (sealed...as I often see on motorcycle wheels), there's nothing you can do but keep an ear open for that rhythmic sound that comes up as the bearings start to fail.
     
  12. edthefox5

    edthefox5 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 25, 2007
    10,096
    4,804
    0
    Location:
    Clearwater, Florida
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    The hub bearing like most modern cars is sealed on a G2. Not sure of G3 but I bet its sealed too.
    Usually if there not sealed they require maintenance.

    And many reports of Gen 2 cars with a failed front wheel bearing at basically low miles.
    I myself lost the front drivers side at 30,000 miles on my bought new G2. Covered under 3/36.

    Haven't really seen any on G3 yet though. No matter what year I wouldn't touch it if its not barking.
     
  13. El Dobro

    El Dobro A Member

    Joined:
    Jul 12, 2011
    6,978
    3,213
    1
    Location:
    NJ
    Vehicle:
    Other Electric Vehicle
    Model:
    N/A
  14. adamace1

    adamace1 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 22, 2009
    1,403
    191
    0
    Location:
    Charlotte, NC
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Repack the bearings.... it's not the 1970's or 80's anymore.