life of front wheel bearings

[Guest]

How long will an original front wheel bearing last before needing replacement? I'm getting a lot of a chopping type noise that gets louder as speed increases. It's really difficult to tell exactly where it's coming from, but I know it's not the rear wheel bearings because I just had those replaced. I'm hoping it's not the tires and especially hope it's not the rear differential. It's just a little difficult to tell if the noise is coming exclusively from the front wheels or not, but I want to make sure that 115,000 miles seems like the time wheel bearings will go before I go ahead and replace them. It's louder on a smooth highway, but I can still hear it a bit on less even surfaces. Anybody else get a similar noise? It's like a chopping, rubbing noise. It's driving me nuts, I don't want to have people riding with me...

[Jand3rson]

I've got an 86es as well, and I just changed the front bearings last week. How many miles are on your car? Mine's at 223k, and if you've reached and/or breached that mark, I'd say you're about due. Mine were VERY loud, making a rythmic grinding noise whenever I drove, on top of getting mad vibration at about 40-45 mph. They're super easy to do, you just need a gear puller (I didn't even need it with mine), an impact gun, and a 36mm socket, plus the necessary tools to pull the calipers, etc. Very easy job, the Bentley manual gives the full details on the repair.

[netcsk]

bearings can last forever or 5 days. It depends if they ever get any dirt or excessive moisture in them. The noise should either worsen or get better depending on which way you're turning.

[E30 Wagen]

My car has 115,000 miles. The rubbing noise does seem to get worse when I turn.

Is an impact gun absolutely necessary to do the replacement job?

[Jand3rson]

My car has 115,000 miles. The rubbing noise does seem to get worse when I turn.

Is an impact gun absolutely necessary to do the replacement job?

Not absolutely, but it's going to take 10 times the work to get those 36mm collar nuts off and the new ones back on without one. Because chances are, they're going to be on there as tight or tighter than probably any other fastener on the car. If you don't have air tools, find a friend that does. Makes jobs like this much easier/faster.

[AndrewBird]

I big breaker bar can be substituted for an impact gun. The Bentley says to torque the spindle nuts down to I believe 210lbs, which is basically as tight as you can get them, so...

[Jand3rson]

I big breaker bar can be substituted for an impact gun. The Bentley says to torque the spindle nuts down to I believe 210lbs, which is basically as tight as you can get them, so...

That's why the impact is nice. Just spin the fucker down until the socket stops turning.

[PeaveyBassist]

That's why the impact is nice. Just spin the fucker down until the socket stops turning.

And torque them afterwards to 210ft lbs...

Will

[ptownTSI]

i wouldnt just torque them down as hard as they can go especially with an impact. most good 1/2" impact's tighten to over 400ft lbs.

[AndrewBird]

i wouldnt just torque them down as hard as they can go especially with an impact. most good 1/2" impact's tighten to over 400ft lbs.

This was an electric impact, not air. Plus, most air impacts have a torque clutch setting on them.

This one that we used to be exact:

http://www.irtools.com/IS/modelComp.asp/item/2931

290Ft. lb MAX.

[E30 Wagen]

Score!

My grandparents are gone in Utah for a few months. Me and my dad are residing their house, and one day during break we were admiring my grandpa's large collection of old woodworking machinery in his huge shop area when I noticed the huge air tank in the corner, which I had forgotten he had. I should post up a picture of his shop and his tools, it's really quite something. Anyway, after looking around we found an impact gun! Dang, if I had known he had one, I might have tried to replace the motor and tranny mounts myself instead of paying my mechanic (he's a really good, fair mechanic though). Although he's an engineer, my grandpa has never been one to work on cars so much, but now I wish I'd gone over to visit more. The ironic thing is that my other grandpa from my dad's side is an auto mechanic with a lift and everything in nice garage with all the tools. Except he really isn't my grandpa, my grandmother remarried. He's a really hard guy to get to know, and he's kind of a dickface when it comes to foreign cars (loves Dodges...) and I DO NOT trust him touching my car at all. He just isn't careful. Plus, he's kinda slow in the head and can't hear worth shit after years of stock car racing.

/meaningless personal story

Anywho, I think I'll take advantage of Bavauto's free July shipping and get some bearings on the way. Anyone know if they carry SKF? I guess I could just call and ask.