Date: Wed, 26 Jul 2000 17:28:36 -0400 From: Scott I. Remick <scottnopsamuteralt.com> Subject: Read wheel bearing replacement on '84 900S
I'm not sure anything else will be done at this point, but I would like to get the real scoop here. My 1984 SAAB 900S started making a humming sound that was clearly coming from the rear, which gradually was getting louder over time. I noticed that when I was making a left turn, the sound would almost go away. Jacking up the rear, I found that the left rear wheel would seem to make a slight noise when hand-spun (although it's hard to hear at low RPMs). My first thought was bearings, even with my minimal experience. Other people agreed with me. And when I brought it to a shop and described the symptoms (without mentioning bearings), that was their thought too. This was a local place (not the SAAB dealership I like to go to over an hour away) and I just wanted to know what was up. I asked them how much bearings were and they couldn't answer me at that point and wanted to hoist it up first and take a look. Fine. I just wanted to know what was up, and figured they could handle that much. I brought it in the next morning and left it there. Near the end of the day, having not heard from them yet, I called to inquire as to what they found. Only to discover that they had already replaced the bearing, which turned out to be a $255 part, as they "can't get just the bearings... it comes as a whole hub assembly." Obviously, I was upset that I hadn't been called first (this is an old car and I would have liked to weigh my options before sinking that kind of money into it). I bitched and moaned and got 25% off the part (the labor was 1/2 hour). Which helped, but I was still upset. My uncle works at Maynards and I often hit him up for parts at cost. I inquired and heard back from him on a price: both bearings a la carte (I guess there are two?) and a seal for about $14 total. Another guy I talked to was also surprised, as he didn't think that the rear bearings were "pressed" bearings (so they should be easily replaced by themselves), and even if they were pressed, they should have the equipment to handle that. He also said that despite the age, the hub itself should be fine, so no harm in keeping the old hub and replacing just the bearings. I also placed a call to the SAAB Dealership, who told me that indeed the bearings WERE only available as a whole hub assembly and to not buy them new, but get them from a junkyard due to their price. So I'm getting all this conflicting information and I'm confused. Can someone here give me the real deal? Are the rear bearings "pressed", "sealed", or what? Can you replace just the bearings or not? Should I leave it as is, or take it back and have them do just the bearings (seeing how I can get them even though they can't)? Advice please... thanks! ----------------------- Scott I. Remick scottnopsamuteralt.com Network and Information (802)388-7545 ext. 236 Systems Manager FAX:(802)388-3697 Computer Alternatives, Inc. http://www.computeralt.com
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