Wheel Bearing Chaos!

[Ryan from Ohio]

Well its official, my front bearings are shot. Im guessing thats why my gas mileage has been sucking the cawk also...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/SET-2-BEARINGS-513137-OLDSMOBILE-ALERO-CUTLASS-97-05_W0QQitemZ120224119736QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item12 0224119736

I can get two of them shipped for price of one locally.

The seller has excellent feedback.

Thoughts? Opinions?

[YALEROYNOT]

thats a good price for both i paid like $90 for one I think but it was TIMKEN if that matters

get em it will at least get you by for a while

[Ryan from Ohio]

I know Timken as I get to mess with their conical bearings for designs at work. Also on a machinist level.

just because its Timken doesnt mean its good. There is more than a few bearing classes.

So Im not feeling a big issue about giving these a try. Just curious if anyone has bought from that seller or bought the same part elsewhere?

[alerored04]

for that price i would try them.

[cherrington17]

i've posted this up before, but maybe since ryan is doing his (and has some electrical know-how) we might be able to get an idea.


I heard from a coworker that the reason our bearings die so quickly/often is due to bad grounding of our car. Causes excess of power to build up in the frame, and some arching across the bearings, killing the grease, then heat fuses them.

Point being, if your changing yours, any chance you can start your car while its torn apart, and toss a voltmeter or amnmeter(sp) on the bearings to see if there IS some residual voltage in there? If we could get this proven, the simply upgrading the grounding wiring could prevent MANY members from killing bearings every couple years....

[Ryan from Ohio]

Not to sound like as azz, but thats the largest pile of crap Ive heard in awhile.

I could agree to the possibility IF the bearing was in between the circuit, like the current has to run through it. But given the fact electric will follow the path of least resistance, there is no reason it would travel the bearing. Especially considering there is nowhere for it to go once there...

So Im gonna say without a doubt that theory is bunk.

I was offered a job about 3 years ago at a Delphi plant to do wheel bearing tests and analysis. I declined the job as it sounded WAY to boring... lol

Since I havent changed them out yet nor have the parts in hand Im just going to assume they fail as they do because of poor design. Our wheels take a butt load of stress. potholes, bumps, etc. I can see how this would adversely affect a poorly designed product.

I just hope these aint to cheaply made. like Chinese bearings...lol

[cherrington17]

it might sound utterly ridiculous to you, but i've had several others, a group with a varying degree of mechanical as well as electrical expertise, admit it is quite plausible of an issue with the car.

as well as a local mech shop (where the conversation started) that replaced my bearings said he had several customers who had their bearings die, several times, and he changed vendors thinking it was bad parts, only to have it keep happening. and its only aleros that hes had that issue with.

http://www.aleromod.com/forums/showthread.php?t=15304&highlight=wheel+bearing

i knew i had a post about it. My only real rebuttle to your comments (even though they do make sense) is feel free to test it, while your in there, and put the myth to bed. I'll be glad to hear that it just isn't happening. But there are alot of things out there that happen, even when logic says they can't.....

[14alero]

How did you know it was going out?Symptoms?

[nickbain]

How did you know it was going out?Symptoms?

You'll be able to hear them. To find out what side it is just jack the car up and spin the tires and listen for a grinding noise. Also if you have abs and traction control then those lights will come on probilly well before they start making any noise.

[cavaliers60]

You'll be able to hear them. To find out what side it is just jack the car up and spin the tires and listen for a grinding noise. Also if you have abs and traction control then those lights will come on probilly well before they start making any noise.

That's good to know..... Mine have been fine for the past couple years I've had my car. lol Hopefully they don't go bad anytime soon as I am trying to get OTHER things replaced on my car. I still gotta get my Belt Tensioner fixed and my window clips replaced. I have yet to get any of those done... :( Which means I'm driving my dad's truck. I'm not complaining about that though. :D

[MADMike]

I've noticed a squeking coming from my car when accelerating and coasting but it goes away imediatley when I brake, does this mean my bearings are going as well? also if it is how long can I let them go? Payroll got cut at work and I don't really have any cash after car payment/insurnace.

[YALEROYNOT]

when mine went I thought the tranny was going the grinding and vibs were so bad.

[nickbain]

I've noticed a squeking coming from my car when accelerating and coasting but it goes away imediatley when I brake, does this mean my bearings are going as well? also if it is how long can I let them go? Payroll got cut at work and I don't really have any cash after car payment/insurnace.

that sounds more like a brake issue.

[CBLOHM3400]

i have bought one from ebay and have yet to have problems with it, but not from that dealer

[MADMike]

that sounds more like a brake issue.

Think so? I had the rotors, and pads replaced ast november when I bought the car, they used really good quality stuff too.

[Ryan from Ohio]

Well besides having the trac light off then the ABS and service engine soon light kicking in later on during my drive... The bearings kind of make a kight grinding noise. Just a little vibration.

Ive been attributing the noise/vibration for a long time on the cheapie tires I bought...

Im gonna go forward with the E bay bearings. Wish me luck :)