New wheel bearings. Really?
Thread Starter
|
Cross-Country
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 97
Likes: 24
From: South Florida
New wheel bearings. Really?
Just had both front bearings replaced on my dually. Luckily under warranty. Just barely. Only 55k miles all on paved roads. No abuse or off roading of any kind. I’ve never even engaged the 4 wheel drive.
17k miles towing my 5er. Cat scale shows a weight increase of 100lbs when trailer is hooked up so that can’t be a factor. I’ve never had to have the bearings replaced on any car/truck I’ve had. I’m glad it was done under warranty but I’m irritated, upset, mad, disappointed that it had to be done at all on a heavy duty Super Duty.
17k miles towing my 5er. Cat scale shows a weight increase of 100lbs when trailer is hooked up so that can’t be a factor. I’ve never had to have the bearings replaced on any car/truck I’ve had. I’m glad it was done under warranty but I’m irritated, upset, mad, disappointed that it had to be done at all on a heavy duty Super Duty.
Hotshot
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 12,361
Likes: 4,396
From: SW VA
So what were the symptoms that made you take it in?
Or was your truck in for other reasons and they just happened to tell you your wheel bearings were bad?
Maybe they were, but stuff like this is why I don’t trust dealerships. Both? In only 55k miles? Not sure I’m buying it…
Or was your truck in for other reasons and they just happened to tell you your wheel bearings were bad?
Maybe they were, but stuff like this is why I don’t trust dealerships. Both? In only 55k miles? Not sure I’m buying it…
Logistics Pro
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 4,832
Likes: 668
From: Maine
So what were the symptoms that made you take it in?
Or was your truck in for other reasons and they just happened to tell you your wheel bearings were bad?
Maybe they were, but stuff like this is why I don’t trust dealerships. Both? In only 55k miles? Not sure I’m buying it…
Or was your truck in for other reasons and they just happened to tell you your wheel bearings were bad?
Maybe they were, but stuff like this is why I don’t trust dealerships. Both? In only 55k miles? Not sure I’m buying it…
Cross-Country
Joined: Aug 2021
Posts: 58
Likes: 25
sadly…
they could have replaced good bearings to get paid the flat rate for it. mechanics are generally not paid hourly.
OR they could have left the good bearings in there and just lied while they did another job and got paid for two jobs at once. one real, one not.
big lawsuit and investigation goin on cause Ford cheaped out and paid mechanics a flat rate worth lower hours than the job actually took to repair those randomly opening doors they had a while back.
guess what? a ton of mechanics threw the kits in the trash and just said they did the repair.
not ******* mechanics in general. just like everybody else. some good. some bad. but when they are bad its the people on the roads who pay.
OR they could have left the good bearings in there and just lied while they did another job and got paid for two jobs at once. one real, one not.
big lawsuit and investigation goin on cause Ford cheaped out and paid mechanics a flat rate worth lower hours than the job actually took to repair those randomly opening doors they had a while back.
guess what? a ton of mechanics threw the kits in the trash and just said they did the repair.
not ******* mechanics in general. just like everybody else. some good. some bad. but when they are bad its the people on the roads who pay.
Thread Starter
|
Cross-Country
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 97
Likes: 24
From: South Florida
I was on the end of a 2k mile trip towing the 5er when I began to hear a winey sound from the frond end. Actually thought it was the front tires as I could tell it needed an alignment. Aside from the noise there were no obvious mechanical issues. Got home, no problem.
Being retired and the price of diesel, I don’t drive the SD much but over the next couple weeks and a few local drives I could tell the noise was getting louder. Took it to an alignment shop and was told immediately the LF bearing was “going bad”. The tech actually took me out and I could hear the grinding. They wanted $1200.00 to do the bearings replacement, on one side.
Went on line and checked the warranty info, called the dealer, dropped it off Monday morning, was called by the service writer that told me it’s under warranty and they were going to replace both fronts. Picked it up Tuesday afternoon.
Being retired and the price of diesel, I don’t drive the SD much but over the next couple weeks and a few local drives I could tell the noise was getting louder. Took it to an alignment shop and was told immediately the LF bearing was “going bad”. The tech actually took me out and I could hear the grinding. They wanted $1200.00 to do the bearings replacement, on one side.
Went on line and checked the warranty info, called the dealer, dropped it off Monday morning, was called by the service writer that told me it’s under warranty and they were going to replace both fronts. Picked it up Tuesday afternoon.
Logistics Pro
Joined: May 2022
Posts: 4,295
Likes: 2,418
From: Everywhere and nowhere
I pulled my wheel bearings on my 95 F350 at 83,000 miles and repacked them. They were still in great shape. Those bearings are like $20 a piece and there are 2 per side plus a $20 seal for the back side of the hub that goes over the spindle.
If only they would have used the K.I.S.S. method all these years it would be even cheaper because there would be millions more of them running around. My friends 96 Dodge Ram had unitized bearings and he had 35" tires. We replaced his wheel bearing units yearly until they stopped offering lifetime warranties then he sold the truck.
If only they would have used the K.I.S.S. method all these years it would be even cheaper because there would be millions more of them running around. My friends 96 Dodge Ram had unitized bearings and he had 35" tires. We replaced his wheel bearing units yearly until they stopped offering lifetime warranties then he sold the truck.
Thread Starter
|
Cross-Country
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 97
Likes: 24
From: South Florida
So what were the symptoms that made you take it in?
Or was your truck in for other reasons and they just happened to tell you your wheel bearings were bad?
Maybe they were, but stuff like this is why I don’t trust dealerships. Both? In only 55k miles? Not sure I’m buying it…
Or was your truck in for other reasons and they just happened to tell you your wheel bearings were bad?
Maybe they were, but stuff like this is why I don’t trust dealerships. Both? In only 55k miles? Not sure I’m buying it…
I pulled my wheel bearings on my 95 F350 at 83,000 miles and repacked them. They were still in great shape. Those bearings are like $20 a piece and there are 2 per side plus a $20 seal for the back side of the hub that goes over the spindle.
If only they would have used the K.I.S.S. method all these years it would be even cheaper because there would be millions more of them running around. My friends 96 Dodge Ram had unitized bearings and he had 35" tires. We replaced his wheel bearing units yearly until they stopped offering lifetime warranties then he sold the truck.
If only they would have used the K.I.S.S. method all these years it would be even cheaper because there would be millions more of them running around. My friends 96 Dodge Ram had unitized bearings and he had 35" tires. We replaced his wheel bearing units yearly until they stopped offering lifetime warranties then he sold the truck.
From what I saw I’m not sure the bearings are able to be repacked like in the good old days.
Trending Topics
Hotshot
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 12,361
Likes: 4,396
From: SW VA
Some people in the Dodge/Ram world have had luck removing the ABS sensor and putting new grease in...but that's all you can do.
Replacing these unit bearings is much easier than the old style inner/outer roller bearings. No races to knock in or out, no preload to setup, no greasing.
4-bolts off, 4-bolts on...done.
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
Top 6 Best Deals Available on New Fords & Lincolns Right Now
Brett Foote
This Hennessey Takes the Expedition Tremor's Off-Roading Capability to the Next Level
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Fords at 2026 Carlisle Ford Nationals
Joe Kucinski
3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership
Brett Foote
10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches
Pouria Savadkouei
Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained
Brett Foote
10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath
Verdad Gallardo
Logistics Pro
Joined: May 2022
Posts: 4,295
Likes: 2,418
From: Everywhere and nowhere
Dynatrac packable bearing kits are expensive and they are only worth it if you are going to own the truck until the wheels fall off. Literally.
Hotshot
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 12,361
Likes: 4,396
From: SW VA
No, unitized bearings are not packable. Thank planned obsolescence for that. The full Timken wheel bearing kit and seal for my 95 is $44 per side on rockauto.com right now. When you can service yourself and replace with Spicer or Timken they don't make any money.
Dynatrac packable bearing kits are expensive and they are only worth it if you are going to own the truck until the wheels fall off. Literally.
Dynatrac packable bearing kits are expensive and they are only worth it if you are going to own the truck until the wheels fall off. Literally.
I did this 8 months before I traded it in...
Attachment 278002
Cargo Master
Joined: Jul 2021
Posts: 2,970
Likes: 2,407
From: Ridgway, CO
55k is a pretty early death for those. My 2012 which was an abused state vehicle for 100k miles before I got it never needed them until I started running it with a snowplow. I did blow though a couple Autozone specials quickly before wising up and buying Motorcraft replacements. Those held up a lot better.
Not as easy as four bolts though, definitely not as easy as the old school ones IMO, and not cheap. The clip that holds the axle shaft is a PIA and if you have vacuum hubs the "seal" requires a special tool to install or you will likely wreck it. If there is corrosion and they have been on there a while, expect more pain yet. I am pretty good at it after doing a few but not a job I would look forward to as "easy"...
The diesel is a lot heavier than the gas and the dually hub has more leverage on the bearings but 55k is too soon. Glad they were warrantied, and both side to boot. This set may go 200k, who knows?
Not as easy as four bolts though, definitely not as easy as the old school ones IMO, and not cheap. The clip that holds the axle shaft is a PIA and if you have vacuum hubs the "seal" requires a special tool to install or you will likely wreck it. If there is corrosion and they have been on there a while, expect more pain yet. I am pretty good at it after doing a few but not a job I would look forward to as "easy"...
The diesel is a lot heavier than the gas and the dually hub has more leverage on the bearings but 55k is too soon. Glad they were warrantied, and both side to boot. This set may go 200k, who knows?
Hotshot
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 12,361
Likes: 4,396
From: SW VA
My theory goes along with any business that works behind the scenes (shops customers not allowed in) to make money. Throw in warranty money from Ford...the customer doesn't care since nothing is coming out of their pocket...so this 'could have' been a way for an opportunistic dealership to make some extra cash. It happens enough throughout the industry that "60 minutes", "Dateline", and thousands of local news channels across the country report stories on malpractice.
Cross-Country
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 74
Likes: 13
Dealer service depts don’t make much money at all from warranty or recall work. They have a much higher profit margin on out of pocket work. I had a wheel bearing go out on my wife’s Toyota couple years ago. I thought it was the tires going bad, sounded just like tires when they get old and hard. Put new tires on and noise was still there. This is just a daily driver, no towing, no off road, just strictly a commuter vehicle and it only had about 80k miles on it. Like you I had never had that issue before but it happens.
