Not saying your bearing ISN'T bad, and if it is, get it replaced ASAP, but you go a LONG ways on a bad one. Mine was making noise for at least six months... Remember, the axle nut keeps the wheel from falling off if the hub separates (which is highly unlikely to begin with). That axle nut is torqued to 250!! ft/lbs, you think it's just going to pop right off?? Hell no, when I changed my bearing, I had to gat a three foot long breaker bar and literally stand on the end of it to get that thing to come off..

Anyhoo. :) I hear a quote for $400 from someone else, you should be able to get the front bearing replaced by a local shop for about half that. The hub/bearing itself is about $120, should be no more than an hour to have someone else replace it (even the dealer said so). That said, it is a pretty easy DIY repair, but there can be a couple issues that crop up, which make me feel like taking it to the shop next time:

Rotor bolt can be siezed and require drilling out. There can be gunk or grit on the axle nut threads which if you don't clean off, can result in cross threading the axle (BAD news - CV joint must then be replaced). Axle nut can just be a big pain in the ass, and if you don't have a 250 lb/ft torque wrench (most under $50 only go to 150 lb/ft) you can't be sure of getting proper torque on it. Still...without these problems it should go smoothly. :)

All THAT said, you may just have a loose axle nut! I thought my other front wheel bearing was going out on me, as it had begun to make the same noises as the first bad one. But no, took it to the shop, who found the axle nut was not torqued properly, so they tightened it and the noise went away. Now it's come back, year later... Hmm.

Aaron Gilbert
1987 9000T 259k miles

• Consequence of not replacing a faulty wheel bearing, Willy, Sun, 8 Jul 2001 09:34:57
  • Dealer is trying to scare you into spending $$$, Aaron Gilbert, Sun, 8 Jul 2001 20:32:23 <-- Viewing This Message
  • Highly unlikely a wheel will fall off, buuuut, bryan , Sun, 8 Jul 2001 15:15:06
  • Re: Consequence of not replacing a faulty wheel bearing, Bill D, Sun, 8 Jul 2001 10:42:58
    • Re: 20% Interest!?, ls, Sun, 8 Jul 2001 11:25:12
      • Re: 20% Interest!?, Bill D, Sun, 8 Jul 2001 14:18:05

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