Has this ever happend to you?

[dodgethis]

I know a while back I had the wheel bearings replaced. I bought some new Timken wheel bearings from Rock and Roll auto, and whats weird is before I took it in, it was the front passenger side that needed it bad. Now that I had it taken in, and had both sides replaced (on the front) I can distinctly hear the driver side sounding like the new bearing that was put on, is going bad. Its a lot louder than what I initially herd from the passenger side when I originally took it in.

 

Have anyone ever seen new bearings go out that fast? I mean I think i have only put on roughly 3 to 4 thousands miles, if even that much on them.

[mra32]

Yes. I was the only one I had heard this happening to. I had my new timken go bad in about 50 miles. REALLY BAD. So bad that I was scared after I had driven on it. My wheel moved around quite a bit in the bearing.

 

I swapped back to the old hub (which was missing a stud or 2) and drove that for a few thousand miles until I could get new ones. I was really baffled because the design seems rather difficult to mess up installation. I took it as a quirk either of my installation or factory and never pursued it beyond replacing it again.

[Stevo]

If you used an airtool to put the hub nut on, there is a good chance the bearing is damaged before leaving the Garage. I've always put the nut on by hand and hand turned it till it needed to be torqued.

 

Am I assuming that by 'taking it in' your having someone else install it?

[dodgethis]

Yes. I was the only one I had heard this happening to. I had my new timken go bad in about 50 miles. REALLY BAD. So bad that I was scared after I had driven on it. My wheel moved around quite a bit in the bearing.

 

I swapped back to the old hub (which was missing a stud or 2) and drove that for a few thousand miles until I could get new ones. I was really baffled because the design seems rather difficult to mess up installation. I took it as a quirk either of my installation or factory and never pursued it beyond replacing it again.

 

Did you finally just get another timeken? personally i would rather get another brand, but hell timeken is already on the passenger side, im kinda dissapointed.

[mra32]

Yes, I got another timken. I was pissed off for a few weeks and thats why I didnt order one. but really...what other options do i have? When I looked at rockauto it was timken or some other crap.

 

I installed it by hand, as I do all my work, and torqued it by standing on a breaker bar. My breaker bar length * my weight was the proper torque for it. This was the days before I had a few torque wrenches, but it certainly did the job

[dodgethis]

If you used an airtool to put the hub nut on, there is a good chance the bearing is damaged before leaving the Garage. I've always put the nut on by hand and hand turned it till it needed to be torqued.

 

Am I assuming that by 'taking it in' your having someone else install it?

 

Yea i took it to a shop, they charged $80.00 for installing each hub. I probably will do it myself this time. I figure since they got the two old hubs off that i should be easier to replace the front again if need be. I think the mechanic told me he put some anti-sieze on the spindle that intersect into the hub in case I replace them myself. I remember last time, that even with a hub puller i couldn't get it off. I will get pissed if i end up having the same issue doing it myself this time. More than likely they probably did use a air tool to put it on. Mra32, your right man what choice do you have, looks like timken it will be.......again.

[mra32]

Well these are the only two 'infant deaths' ive heard about the timken units. FWIW The two i put on my car after this are fine. Those stock units last a long time though and are probably better than the timken ones, but the trouble is you can only get them used from the jy, so the point is moot.

 

Also, you are the only case ive heard of having an exceptionally difficult time getting the hubs out. Maybe its related?