Wheel bearing safety question

[TwoJ's]

Just today my passenger rear wheel bearing started to make a LOT of noise. I didn't see this coming, and I thought it would come on slowly rather than make a bunch of noise all of the sudden. After about a 30 minute drive on the freeway, it screeches loudly while driving 15mph or less. It is especially bad when turning left, and goes away when turning right.

I know I need to replace the bearing, but I have a small issue. I have been at my parent's house for a while, and I am 100 miles from my house. I have all of my tools, jack stands etc. at my house, so I would like to replace it there myself rather than paying someone to do it.

My question is this: Is is safe for me to drive about 100 miles back to my house with a noisy bearing? Is there any chance of it siezing? I'd really rather do this myself than pay someone over here to do it.

[Dirtbleed]

Borrow your folks car and go get your tools. If you trash that trailing arm your really gonna be screwed.

[Aptyp]

if you drive on it too long, outer race gets so damn hot it gets fused into trailing arm, and then you'll need a trailing arm...

[Scotaku]

if you drive on it too long, outer race gets so damn hot it gets fused into trailing arm, and then you'll need a trailing arm...

My money is on the axle circlip giving up before the nut once the inner race splits and tears the outer cv joint off the axle.

Go for it! :giggle:

[stevofthahill]

I once had the rear passenger wheel bearing seize while doing about 70 mph on the freeway. Let's just say it's not an experience I'd like to relive. I'd recommend finding an alternate form of transportation to pick your stuff up.

Also, before mine went out, it didn't even sound that bad. It only made a slight whirring while rolling.

[Wh33lhop]

There really is no saying whether or not it'll seize in 100 miles. You could go for another thousand miles or it could be on the verge; you can't tell just by the sound.

Either find someone in the area with tools or man up and take it to a shop. Better safe than sorry, as they say.

[TwoJ's]

Thanks for the tips. Looks like I'll have to just pay someone to do it. I start school in a week and I work every day until I go back. So going to get my tools isn't going to work. How much roughly will I be paying?

[Wh33lhop]

Depends on what shop you go to. Try to ask around so you get a reasonably priced shop doing the work.

[TwoJ's]

Any rough idea? 300? 800? I really have no idea.

[NJGreenBudd]

Bearing would be $100 at most from a shop, you can buy one on ebay $35 from FCP. Figure an hours labor at $80/hr. You looking at a minimum of $200 with tax from a shop to get it done. It's easy enough to do with a jack, 4lb hammer and 32mm socket in a driveway though.

[Massive Lee]

Figure an hours labor at $80/hr. You looking at a minimum of $200 with tax from a shop to get it done. It's easy enough to do with a jack, 4lb hammer and 32mm socket in a driveway though.

You must be an expert if it takes only 1 hour. Even with a puller and all the right plates, it can take easily 2 hours, especially on the driver side. Bearings can be a bitch to remove.

[JMil86]

Wheel bearings NEVER need to be replaced. Just put some wd40 on it and keep driving it forever. No seriously bearings can sometimes take ALOT longer than initially planned. Get someone who has tools around you to help or go get yours would be my advice, unless you can get them to firmly agree to a price.

[TwoJ's]

That's still not all that bad. I figured since everyone bitched about how hard it is, that it would be pretty expensive. I'll just call around tomorrow. One reason I wanted to do it myself is because I haven't done one before. I like to do everything at least once just so I know exactly how everything goes together and works.

[TwoJ's]

Wheel bearings NEVER need to be replaced. Just put some wd40 on it and keep driving it forever. No seriously bearings can sometimes take ALOT longer than initially planned. Get someone who has tools around you to help or go get yours would be my advice, unless you can get them to firmly agree to a price.

I don't buy that. Any bearing in anything is a wear item and will eventually need replacing. I thought 135k was a bit fast to wear out, but I'm not all that surprised.

And wd-40 is not a good lubricant.

[e34john]

I just checked a few months ago and it is about 250 each rear corner. Ended up getting my dad to do it at work, I drove on it for about a year too.