Modern Vehicle Wheel bearing replacement

[TractorGuy]

Other than a used boat trailer I haven't seen a failed vehicle wheel bearing since the 80s.

My F150 has old style tapered bearings that have only been repacked once in 177,000 miles.

My Mustang has sealed bearings in a hub with the ABS sensor on it. When I burned up the brakes running Sebring I bought a spare set of rotors and hubs but didn't install the new hubs. To this day it still has the original hubs on it. The car only has 115,000 miles but 35,000 + have been race track and autocross.

 

[Jstpssng]

A member on another forum I used to visit stated that he took the sealed hubs apart to repack them; claiming that it would make them last longer.
The roads that I travel (and the speeds that I go down them) tend to be hard on front ends. Alignments are just part of the price of running a truck.

 

[prof fate]

I've done 3 or 4 on Taurus (front). They can get bad enough you can wiggle it! Wife just kept turning up the radio...LOL

I have a similar noise in the rear on my '14 outback..gonna check it next week..working 16 hour days till then.

Most are easy, some are not. My 93 taurus needed a press, the 03/04 ones don't, but they can seize on the car and it takes a beating with a BIG hammer ot get them apart.

No clue what the subaru will be like. Had a headlight go out this week too...LOVE rock auto - local lit's $23.98 for a bulb..RA? 2.38. Yes, under 3 bucks.

I think the headlight ***'y needs to come out though...not trying to think about that till next week

Three basic types of wheel bearings that I know of. And have replaced all three many times.

1. Pair of tapered rollers. Manually setting preload and repacking frequently. Like 1980's trucks
2. Hub assemblies. More expensive....but no pressing required. All the 2003-2008 trucks I have worked on had them
3. Just a replacement bearing. Fat double row ball bearing.

My 2001 saturn had this style. Simple to swap.


Fast forward....wifes 2015 buick encore with 56k miles.....has a bad right front wheel bearing.

I couldn't detect it at all by jacking it up and wiggling, spinning, etc. But had a noise when driving....sounded like an agressive mud tire on that right front corner. And turning to the right made it louder. (which is backwards from normal wheel bearing diagnosis)

Anyway....this is the first time I have done one of these fat double row bearing replacements on a ABS equipped vehicle.

I am used to the pulse ring being on the CV shaft, or integral to a hub bearing, etc.

NOPE. Seems they put a sensor impulse ring in the BEARING.

And guess what happens if you install the bearing backwards? And guess what type of bearing is impossible to get out without destroying the bearing?

So doing the job twice, I am getting pretty good at bearings on a modern encore.

Worst part is, googling info on this both prior and after doing the bearing....little to know information. I am sure MANY modern vehicles are similar with a bearing that has the ABS ring built in. So be warned. Dont buy a second bearing like I had to, and make sure you get it in the right way