Replacing Front Wheel Bearing

Discussion in 'General Motoring' started by HyperCube33 \(Life2Death\), Mar 18, 2007.

  1. 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!
     
    HyperCube33 \(Life2Death\), Mar 18, 2007
    #1
  2. HyperCube33 \(Life2Death\)

    njot Guest

    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.
     
    njot, Mar 19, 2007
    #2
  3. HyperCube33 \(Life2Death\)

    James1549 Guest

    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
     
    James1549, Mar 19, 2007
    #3
  4. HyperCube33 \(Life2Death\)

    Lane Guest

    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.
    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 ]
     
    Lane, Mar 19, 2007
    #4
  5. HyperCube33 \(Life2Death\)

    mrichards Guest

    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
     
    mrichards, Mar 19, 2007
    #5
  6. HyperCube33 \(Life2Death\)

    p_vouers Guest

    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.
     
    p_vouers, Mar 19, 2007
    #6
  7. HyperCube33 \(Life2Death\)

    Kevin Guest

    That is true for the rears. But the fronts have a separate bearing.
     
    Kevin, Mar 19, 2007
    #7
  8. Awesome, I'll let you guys know how that goes once I get the parts :)
     
    HyperCube33 \(Life2Death\), Mar 19, 2007
    #8
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