Should i replace both front wheel bearings at the same time

A technician worth his salt could install and adjust a set of bearings in his sleep. The tires balance well and it drives smooth.

Replacing wheel bearings on both sides of a vehicle used to be standard procedure as it was economical insurance against a comeback.

Should i replace both front wheel bearings at the same time. Two schools of thought. 1 - If one is bad and one is good replace the bad one and worry about the good one when it goes bad. 2 - Considering the age and mileage if one is bad the other isnt far behind.

Replace both while youre at. Hi replacing the front wheel bearings on any vehicle is difficult if you dont have the right tools as the driveshaft and wheel hub where the bearing is seated needs to be removed. The hub housing the bearing may have to be heated depending on corrosion when the bearing is being pressed out by using a heavy duty vice and the new bearing is pressed in using the vice and the old bearing as a guide.

You dont necessarily have to replace the bearings in both wheels at the same time though its not a bad idea but always inner and outer on the same wheel at the same time. Wiki User 2008-08. Based on this line of thinking it would make sense to recommend replacing both wheel bearing hubs at the same time even though only one has obviously failed.

On the other hand some would argue replacing both at the same time would be an unnecessary expense. Replacing wheel bearings on both sides of a vehicle used to be standard procedure as it was economical insurance against a comeback. In those days a set of bearings and races could be purchased under 5 a side including the seal.

A technician worth his salt could install and adjust a set of bearings in his sleep. I only replace the parts that fail or are showing wear. Theres no advantage to doing both sides.

It might save you a little time because you dont have to jack it up again and get the tools out again but other than that theres no advantage to doing both sides. Replacing the wheel hub will. A singular wheel bearing replacement is the reason why you dont necessarily have to replace every wheel bearings during a visit to the local mechanic.

Many mechanics might try to get you to do all four at the same time so they can make some extra money on the procedure and the labor cost but this is usually not necessary and just a way for them to get more money at one time. As a general rule the old type bearings the ones that are 15 ea. To replace are always done in pairs.

As much as anything this is because once you have all the tools out you may as well do both at that price. And if one has gone the other is probably close rarely the case but sounds like it would be. Tires were rotated again a couple of days ago.

The noise was confirmed by a trusted mechanic to be a rear left wheel bearing. He recommends that I replace both rear bearings at the same time though he admitted that I wouldnt save on labor charges by doing both at the same time. Answer 1 of 11.

Lets start with front wheel bearings. It depends on the type of bearing the car was designed with. Rear wheel drive tapered roller bearing.

Wear gloves or spend another 10 minutes washing grease off your hands. Front wheel drive with pressed on bearing. The tires balance well and it drives smooth.

I had new tires put on last year right around the same time the latest set of wheel bearings were put on. All was good until recently. The right tire wore oddly but they found a bad tie rod on that sideplus it was the opposite side of the wheel bearing they replaced last week.

Another thing to bear in mind is that if you have the option of a wheel bearing kit or complete hub assembly it may end up being a false economy to go for the cheaper of the 2 options because a lot more labor would be required to fit the wheel bearing kit than it would the complete hub so try and get a price from your mechanic on both jobs and work out which will be best for you in the long run Replacing your wheel bearings. Is it OK to replace just one wheel bearing. Yes if only one wheel bearing is bad only that bearing needs to be replaced.

There is no need to replace a good wheel bearing as a precaution. Can a wheel bearing be greased. Only tapered roller wheel bearings can be greased.

While you dont absolutely have to do the wheel bearings on both sides at the same time its not like rotors and pads its generally considered good practice to do so. Unless you own the car for 30 more years and drive the bejesus out of it youll probably never have to change the front wheel bearings again. As they wear out excess play develops in the bearing.

This excess play along with dust dirt and debris sneaking its way inside will end up damaging the internal bearing surfaces. Once the wheel bearing surfaces are damaged they have zero chance of survival. The wheel bearings condition will worsen until it finally self destructs in spectacular fashion.

As you can imagine the ideal situation is to replace the wheel bearing. Also re-using the old accessories such as bolts nuts circlips split pins seals instead of replacing them with new ones can cause the wheel end bearing to operate under abnormal or unsafe conditions increasing wheel end bearing wear and risk of a car accident. Here are the answers to the questions you askedThe only time you need to do a power steering flush is when the system is contaminatedContamination can also be caused by having a leak and different or the wrong type power steering fluidIf fluid looks good then no reason to flushSounds like you have changed most of the important steering and suspension components so yes It would be wise to hold off on an alignment until after you replace.

A wheel bearing replacement is a standard job so the cost should be very straightforward depending on your vehicle year make and model. However if other related issues are discovered such as having to remove the steering knuckle in order to replace the wheel bearing or having to replace some suspension components then the costs will vary. OEM parts are more expensive but the OEM quality is often better.

Replacing rear CV axles tends to be more expensive due to extra labor. Do both CV axles need to be replaced at the same time. No its not necessary.

There is no need to replace a CV axle if its in good shape. Can you save a CV axle by replacing only a broken boot. Wheel bearings should be replaced all at once even though some may not be as worn as the others.

Not doing that would still mean that eventually the remaining wheel bearings will go bad needing the same quick attention. If the cars wheel bearing assembly was initially done at the factory the whole assembly is going to have to be replaced. To change wheel bearings start by lifting the wheel up on a jack unscrewing the lug nuts and taking the wheel off.

Then remove the brake caliper the dust cover over the rotor and the cotter pin and castle nut behind the dust cover. Next pull the rotor off remove the old hub and take apart the hub assembly to access the wheel bearings. On a high-mileage vehicle with a bad CV joint or boot its often a good idea to replace both shafts at the same time.

Often the right passenger side shaft fails first because right turns are at a sharper angle than left turns and right turns are more common than left turns. Consequently the right outer CV joint and boot are the first to go. If so you may have a bad wheel bearing.

Check your car manual to see the maximum amount of movement that can be considered acceptable. If youre unsure whether or not there is too much movement its better to be safe than sorry. You should replace your hub assembly and wheel bearings.

Heres how to replace wheel bearings. Even if only one side is bad it makes sense to replace.