Wheel Bearings

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Mar 15, 2002 | 11:30 AM

froman23

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Wheel Bearings

My bearing is my right front tire just gave out. I took it to a place that is goin to replace them and they said that it was from me driving in water. Would this be true. They also said that every time you sumurge the wheel in water i need to repack them. Is that true also? Getting the wheel bearings replaced and packed just cost me 350$. This sucks. Any help whould be very helpful. Thanks All

Mar 16, 2002 | 02:00 AM

PAUL_2

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Wheel Bearings

If you are off road , mud , water etc then wheel bearings need more servicing . It all depends on how often you are in these conditions .Four wheel bearings & their races , the labor involved , Id say $350 is a fair price .

Mar 18, 2002 | 05:47 AM

cpnhgnjnky

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Wheel Bearings

Everytime I four wheel I take the front end apart and clean and relube the bushings, bearings etc, I also when getting into swampy, gritty, or DEEP mud I will take apart the rear springs and clean them and re-lube them with copper grease. Thats just me though, I am a maintenance freak. Its become a pet peave of mine over the years.

CJ

Apr 2, 2002 | 09:07 PM

fishmanndotcom

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Joined: May 2000

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From: Senoia, GA

Wheel Bearings

I'm sorry but $350 is ridiculous. I pay like $50 for all four of mine and I do it myself. You are getting ripped off. And it is all true that you have to do this stuff everytime you get the truck submerged. Hope I could shged some light.
-Jason-

Apr 3, 2002 | 08:54 AM

jim henderson

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From: So Cal

Wheel Bearings

Being ripped off, key phrase was "I do it myself", yes almost all automotive work is less expensive if you do it yourself, that's why I do it myself too.

$350 for all 4 wheels if done in a shop is not out of line what with service hours costing $60+/hr now a days. Lube seals etc would cost about $50, the rest is labor. When I do this job it is at LEAST an all day lollipop for me, but then I am slow and I like to snoop around. Sounds like the the shop is charging for about 5 hours labor, not unreasonable. So you have to ask yourself if $60/hr is worth it to you. In my case I do it myself.

Plus if you do it yourself, you will need one or two special tools that you won't use anywhere else, you have to factor in that cost too, it's not a lot but it may count for the beginning mechanic.

So in my unexpert opinion, $350 isn't bad. I hate going to dealers because no matter what it is, it almost always costs me way more than I thought and usually more than $350.

Good Luck,

Jim Henderson

Apr 8, 2002 | 06:53 PM

fishmanndotcom

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From: Senoia, GA

Wheel Bearings

Yes very true. I was being a lil eccentric. I see where you are coming from. But if you do it yourself then you get a better understanding of how your truck works. Trust me, I am on a college budget so i don't have a lot of money to throw away but i know my truck better than most mechanics b/c i do all the work myself. i find it much more helpful. That is just my opinion. Sorry if i seemed too eccentric.
-Jason-

Apr 9, 2002 | 10:10 AM

jim henderson

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From: So Cal

Wheel Bearings

I Agree, it is almost always better to do most of the maintenance on your vehicle, not just because it saves money but also because you will learn about the eccentricities of your car and will spot things a regular mechanic may not. It also is good training for that day when at 3am way the heck in the middle of nowhere, engine go boom. There has been more than a few times where my knowing which end of the pliers to grab got me back on the road instead of having to wait for a tow.

Besides, most of us like to tinker. The only area a shop mechanic has the advantage in my mind, is that he has seen more variety and usually has the better equiment. I need to get me a scanner. Plus he has the time to do the work, sometimes I don't, and that is when I get stuck with the big bills.

Good Luck,

Jim Henderson