Car eats wheel bearings, Whats going on. Options

[jordisonjr]

In the past 5 years of owning this car, i've probably taken it in for heel bearings 5 times for different sides of front wheel bearings to be changed out.

This doesn't seem right and should not be happening this fast. anyone have any insight to what i s going on?
I've only been putting in OEM toyota parts, and had them installed by a mechanic from toyota who does side jobs out of his garage on his spare time.

I've heard that other daaged parts ( I believe its a damaged hub ) can cause wheels bearings to get chewed up relatively fast. The car also is stored for the winter. The first winter I stored it, i had it parked outside covered up, just sitting and i needed to replace one side, so i thought maybe it was from sitting so long. so the next winter I jacked the whole car up, but still had the wheels on the ground, just not supporting the full weight of the car, and when it came out of storage i needed LCA bushings in the front.

Now this past winter I also just parked it and let it sit, and i need a wheel bearing again. Its pretty frustrating having to throw money at the car for the same thing all the time, and an allignment as well, so I was wondering if you guys had any insight as to what could be causing this. I really don't think the way its being stored is causing it, and am leaning more towards a damaged hub, but I could be wrong.

I'm curious to hear your guys' experiences on this. And I know forsure the sound its making now is a wheel bearing, it grinds at full lock in reverse, and when turning right it also will grind and make that distinctive wirring sound wheel bearings do (from putting pressure on the driver side due to body roll) however at cruising speeds in a straight line it doesn't make noise unless the wheels are pointed at a specific angle ( I'm sure thats coming though)

Any opinions or suggestions would be appreciated.

[njccmd2002]

the problem might be the mechanic, bearings need to be pressed right, a little off spec and they fail

[match220]

Any abnormality in the suspension system causing a wobble will eat your wheel bearings. Bent rim, loose ball joints or tie rod ends, worn bushings..etc. You said it's the same mechanic, if he isn't packing the bearings right with the grease it doesn't matter if they are Toyota or cheap ones, they will burn themselves up without enough grease. If it's something other than this I don't know.

[trdproven]

I agree with both, something wrong with how its done, or problems with the suspension. Also the axle nuts need to be torqued to spec.

[jordisonjr]

Pretty sure my rim isn't bent as they are pretty new, but ill have a look.
Also I'll check the front suspension for anything worn, and this time around might end up taking it to someone else.

[Special_Edy]

Its incompetence on the part of the mechanic. Whether or not he installed the part wrong, he isnt fixing the real problem. The wheel bearings burning up is just a symptom of a greater problem in your case. The second time that mechanic had to change the same wheel bearing on that car he should have known to look for the cause of the issue. A competent alignment shop may be more help to you in diagnosing this than the mechanic.

[jordisonjr]

So you're saying, its not that he is installing it incorrectly, but rather that something else (such as a damaged hub) is causing wheel bearings to burn up, but he's not telling me that just so i keep coming back to him to get more wheel bearings put in, hence more money in his pocket.

This post has been edited by jordisonjr: May 11, 2012 - 12:01 PM

[Special_Edy]

So you're saying, its not that he is installing it incorrectly, but rather that something else (such as a damaged hub) is causing wheel bearings to burn up, but he's not telling me that just so i keep coming back to him to get more wheel bearings put in, hence more money in his pocket.

Well, he could be ripping you off or he could be an idiot.

[match220]

Pretty sure my rim isn't bent as they are pretty new, but ill have a look.
Also I'll check the front suspension for anything worn, and this time around might end up taking it to someone else.

you won't be able to tell by looking. You will feel a wobble maybe only at a certain speed. Someone will notice when you get a new tire put on the rim and they can't balance it properly for the tire.

[Bitter]

Either he's not torquing them to the correct spec, the races have spun and egged out the hub/axle or the outer race spun and egged out the knuckle.

[jordisonjr]

Sorry but what are the races

[match220]

Sorry but what are the races

inner race is the inside of the bearing assembly, solid metal piece. Outer race is the outside of the bearing assembly. The bearings are encased in these two races.

[jordisonjr]

Oh yea that makes sense

[Bitter]

Ask him if he's been torquing them with an impact.

[zfjohnson07]

better yet, ask him how long hes been a mechanic ha ha. like they said either hes doing it wrong or something else is wrong with the suspension.

[qatar11]

Two things possibly

* If the Hubs are shot, you will prematurely take out the bearing... we were prematurely wearing out wheel bearings and after going to a different shop - the guy notified me that my hubs were thrashed.

* What brand wheel bearings are you using? We have had very good luck with Timken Wheel bearings:

(Timken Part Numbers)

Front Wheel Bearing: 514002B
Front Inner Seal: 4899
Front Outer Seal: 225220
Rear Wheel Bearing: 512137

[jordisonjr]

Was using OEM bearings.
How quickly were they wearing out?
Mine are wearing quicker than they should, bu not extremely quick. 6 to 8 months maybe? I know thats not the best way to estimate the time but thats the best I can do. And its daily driven.

[qatar11]

Was using OEM bearings.
How quickly were they wearing out?
Mine are wearing quicker than they should, bu not extremely quick. 6 to 8 months maybe? I know thats not the best way to estimate the time but thats the best I can do. And its daily driven.

Um.. probably 2 races... so 35 Hours or so. Which is a totally different world in terms of wear and forces applied... Actually we haven't had much luck between bad hubs and loosening axle nuts... WHICH there is a TSB for:





ALLDATA Online - 1994 Toyota Celica L4-132 2164cc 2.2L DOHC (5S-FE) - Drive Axles - Front Hub Nut Replacement
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1994 Toyota Celica L4-132 2164cc 2.2L DOHC (5S-FE)
Vehicle Level Steering and Suspension Suspension Technical
Service Bulletins Drive Axles - Front Hub Nut Replacement


Drive Axles - Front Hub Nut Replacement


DRIVELINE/DIFFERENTIAL
DL001-98
MARCH 6, 1998
TITLE:
FRONT AXLE HUB NUT REPLACEMENT
MODELS:
'92 - '98 TERCEL, PASEO, COROLLA, CELICA, CAMRY
'96 - '98 RAV4
Introduction





Due to a change of the friction control treatment on the nut thread,
both types of Front Axle Hub Nuts (silver and black) for 1992-1998
Tercel, Paseo, Corolla, Celica, Camry and 1996-1998 RAV4s are NOT
reusable.
NOTE: When replacing the Front Axle Hub Nut the new part must be the
same color as the old part. When replacing a Silver nut -- use a NEW
Silver nut and when replacing a Black nut -- use a NEW Black nut.
Affected Vehicles
-1992-1998 Tercel, Paseo, Corolla, Celica, Camry and 1996-1998
RAV4s.

Parts Information
PART NUMBER PART NAME COLOR

90179-22020 Nut, Axle Hub Silver
90178-22001 Nut, Axle Hub Black




Warranty Information







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[jordisonjr]

alright so Im going to go ahead and get this done cause its starting to get really bad.
I know I need a bearing, and Im going to do the hub as well.

Found the bearing on rockauto.com for 30 bucks (Timken is the manufacturer, i've heard good things)
Anyone know where I can get a new hub for relatively cheap? The delerships here will want an arm and a leg, as well a any local part stores.
Im also aware that I need a bearing seal kit, But not wuite sure what that would consist of.

All the previous times i got them replaced i just dropped off the car and he did the rest.
Can anyone tell me what this "seal kit" would consist of, and suggestions where I could grab them (preferably online as that will be cheaper, and most of the stores you have guys down in the states, we don't have in Canada. Unless your from canada and know some good cheap sources, then lets hear em.)

[jordisonjr]

Bump. Anyone?