Replacing Front Wheel Bearing

[HyperCube33 \(Life2Death\)]

I am curious as to how much work it would be to replace the front wheel
bearing. As I've read, on Saturn's the bearings are pressed in - probably
should be done by a machine shop - but would only cost <$75 in parts. This
beats the $300 I was quoted at a auto repair place.

How long do stock bearings usually last on these cars anyway?

Thanks!

 

[njot]

They should in theory last the life of the car.
Mine went bad, though, shortly after ramming the front wheel into the
curb during a snowstorm.

What you could try is to get the whole steering knuckle & wheel
bearing off a junked car.
Spin it first to make sure it's OK... if no obvious clicking or
roughness, it should be OK.

The main cost involved in replacing these is the labor to press the
bearing onto the steering knuckle, and to re-install the knuckle on
the car, align the wheels, etc. The bearing itself is not that much
money... maybe $80 for the part.

 

[James1549]

Around here, the dealers will press in your bearings for a small fee.
It can't be that big of a deal for any shop to do that has a press.
Regardless, you will still need an alignment to do the job right. And
Saturns are not the only vehicles that use pressed in bearings now-a-
days.

James

 

[Lane]

How long do stock bearings usually last on these cars anyway?

One went bad on my '94 at about 145k. On the race car, I replace them
before they go bad. They will go bad quickly if the big axle nut is not
very very tight. So tight that's its a bit beyond the published torque
spec. This information comes from a Saturn tech I've known for more than 10
years whom I trust.

What you could try is to get the whole steering knuckle & wheel bearing
off a junked car.

I wouldn't trust a bearing off a junkyard car to be much better than the one
you're replacing. After all, a lot of them go through serious harshness to
get to the junkyard...

I think the last time I replaced one, it ran around $50 from Autozone. Your
Saturn dealer's service department is able to press the bearing out/in, as
well as any competent machine shop. My machine shop charged just a few
bucks (less than $20 if I recall correctly). The big center axle nut will
be the toughtest part of the job. You'll need a good impact wrench, or at
least a 2 foot breaker bar to get it off. A Haynes or Chilton manual will
talk you through the rest of the job.

Lane [ lane (at) evilplastic.com ]

 

[mrichards]

I am curious as to how much work it would be to replace the front wheel
bearing. As I've read, on Saturn's the bearings are pressed in - probably
should be done by a machine shop - but would only cost <$75 in parts.
This
beats the $300 I was quoted at a auto repair place.

I took the hub off and had a Saturn shop replace the bearing for about $75
if I remember correctly.

How long do stock bearings usually last on these cars anyway?

Probably should not have to replace ordinarily. I had to replace one on a
99 Saturn that I bought used. I have a 97 SL1 that is still going strong
that I bought new.
MR

 

[p_vouers]

I took the hub off and had a Saturn shop replace the bearing for about $75
if I remember correctly.


Probably should not have to replace ordinarily. I had to replace one on a
99 Saturn that I bought used. I have a 97 SL1 that is still going strong
that I bought new.
MR

I though thta if the bearing went bad and because it was part of the
hub.. you just replace the whole assembly.. hub and all. I think I
even read this somewhere in the saturn repair specs also.

 

[Kevin]

I though thta if the bearing went bad and because it was part of the
hub.. you just replace the whole assembly.. hub and all. I think I
even read this somewhere in the saturn repair specs also.

That is true for the rears. But the fronts have a separate bearing.

 

[HyperCube33 \(Life2Death\)]

Awesome, I'll let you guys know how that goes once I get the parts