Just wanted to know if anyone else is going through this too...
97 Z , stock wheels 225 50 16 tires, so pretty close to stock. I drive 85% highway 15% city and have put about 50 000km on the car in the last two and a half years(since I bought it) or so and I'm just now about to replace another bearing FOR THE EIGHTH TIME!!!!! Up to date count is: five on the driver side and three on the passengers side. But here's the deal, I've only actually had to purchase two hub assembly units(Thank you Canadian Tire one year warranty!!!) It's an SKF bearing, not the OEM, the price difference is astounding but of course so is the quality... I thought this was just a problem I was having until my old man bought a 2001 Z24 with 60000km on it and immediately had to change both hubs. He of course choked on the price GM quoted for the part and went the Canadian Tire route as well... and has been changing them out ever since, he's on his sixth, under warranty. The most either one of us can get outta one of these bearings is about 10 000km THAT AIN'T RIGHT!! I can now change out a blown bearing blindfolded with one hand tied behind my back in about 25 mins, the longest part is jacking up the car... Any one else out there having bearing problems?
I replaced mine once at like 80,000 miles.. have over 10,000 on them now and no problems yet. What is going wrong with yours? Getting dry, or loose? Mine were just dry.
1983 Camaro Z28
Yeah they don't get loose just REALLY noisy unlike hub bearings of yesteryear these use two sealed ball bearings with a small spacer in between instead of roller bearings that can be adjusted, it's a really crappy setup but what can we do eh?
I had the same problem with mine, but when I started leaving the gaskets out that came with the aftermarket hubs they have lasted much longer. This includes the black o-ring and the rear gasket that you insert in the back of the knuckle.
The rear gasket Is gonna stay where it is, it's in perfect condition, Like I said the bearings don't get loose just rough, like a pitted bearing...but that useless black o-ring...I don't use it, don't like the way it looks squishing out in some places and not others.
Zach wrote:I had the same problem with mine, but when I started leaving the gaskets out that came with the aftermarket hubs they have lasted much longer. This includes the black o-ring and the rear gasket that you insert in the back of the knuckle.
I didn't put any of those things in when I installed mine, I didn't see a need to.. working great for me so far.
1983 Camaro Z28
115,000 miles , not 1 bearing
and ive know others just as long and even alot longer , and never replaced 1
I guess I should have sprung for the GM hubs....Thing is up here in Montreal the roads are like the surface of the moon, there are potholes that can swallow whole cars, no sh*t ...I'm sure that doesn't add to the regular life span of your average hub...
If I had to guess the "skf" might be your problem! - you always get what you pay for. Get a timken and it'll be the last one you buy. I've got 200,000miles of a set of timkens.
Just changed it last night....didn't realize it due to all the noise coming from the drivers side, the passenger side is humming now too.... *vibrates with anger*
Umm...im over 100k on my 02.
No problems on anything besides the @!#$ dashboard lip cracking.
Zach wrote:I had the same problem with mine, but when I started leaving the gaskets out that came with the aftermarket hubs they have lasted much longer. This includes the black o-ring and the rear gasket that you insert in the back of the knuckle.
Zach does do alot of Auto-X. Not sure how much that plays into it. I have never replaced one (but might have to real soon). Not sure if the noise I have is a front wheel bearing or something else.
FU Tuning
are you torquing the bearings correctly?? i know its a stupid question but no one else asked it, also anyone have a good bearing name besides timkin??? my sunbird has 260k on it and it howls like hell, been doing it for 20000 kms its finally getting bad enough i have to change the hubs
Yeah their's this little tag on the hub assembly that says to torque the main axle to hub nut to 180lbs, and all three hub to knuckle bolts go in at 70lbs...
Invader Zim wrote:Yeah their's this little tag on the hub assembly that says to torque the main axle to hub nut to 180lbs, and all three hub to knuckle bolts go in at 70lbs...
ok, because strangely i've heard of people complaining of @!#$ty wheel bearings not lasting and i've come to find they werent being torque properly, another thing would be maybe try a different brand of wheel bearing
I had bad luck with the Timken's. They would break just about once every autocross. The last set of cheap hubs I put in from discount have been to several autocrosses and are holding up well (4+ monhts of driving). Just remember to toss out all those gaskets
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Zach wrote:I had bad luck with the Timken's. They would break just about once every autocross. The last set of cheap hubs I put in from discount have been to several autocrosses and are holding up well (4+ monhts of driving). Just remember to toss out all those gaskets .
so your saying not to put that dust seal back thats in the back of the knuckle?? i was told that was why they fail so early from the factory due to lack of the seal, well on a 2nd gen anyway
Well, since I've left out the dust seal in the back they have not gone bad on me
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Wow, I've had good luck with the stock GM stuff.. except for the one time I smashed into a curb, I've never had to replace one.
i put 115,000 miles on my 99 sunfire, never had to replace one. my 04 cav has almost 84,000 and as best i can tell they dont need to be replaced. however, with the amount of noise this car makes (intake, exhaust, etc) theyd have to be pretty bad to be noticed over the rest.
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did mine at 113k.
note: rotate tires 1st to make sure its not the tires. if noise goes away when u turn left its the right one and vise versa.
I just had mine changed, drivers side, and its still making the same noise when I turn the wheel left
Reality is an illusion caused by lack of drugs
Mine was going through aftermarket bearing like crazy too. I finally just took it to the dealership and they replaced it. Cost me 250.00 but this one has lasted 15,000 miles and is still holding up well.
FORGET GIRLS GONE WILD WE HAVE GOVERNMENT SPENDING GONE WILD!
Just found out the other side needs replacing now...
Reality is an illusion caused by lack of drugs
