What is Destroying my wheel bearing!?!

Discussion in 'Modifications & DIY how-to' started by Slowsoul, Jan 15, 2009.

  1. Slowsoul

    Slowsoul Member

    This is getting ridiculous.

    at 110,000 miles (about 2 months ago) I replaced all 4 bearings. The front left bearing was the only one that was trashed, but I went ahead and took the opportunity to do all four corners.

    Just the other day, I took the car in for an alignment and they informed me that they couldn't do the alignment because my front left bearing was loose...What, it only had 4k miles on it!?

    So, last night, in the freezing cold, I press in a new bearing and reinstall.

    I get it back down to the alignment shop, and I get a call from them an hour later..."your front left wheel bearing is still loose" Brand new bearing, less that 24 hours old.

    I would normally think that it was an issue with the install, but this is the second bearing on the same corner, and the other 3 wheels are fine. It is only the left front corner.

    Is my spindle bad?
     
    Last edited: Jan 15, 2009
  2. JJang12

    JJang12 Active Member

    what's the spec wheels you have one now? and do you do any tracking?

    The reason why I'm asking these are that wheel bearings can wear out quicker with aggressive offset of wheels by putting extra loads on bearings and heat generated by brakes.
     
  3. pEd

    pEd This ain't no Piccadilly!

    I'd check the spindle .

    Are you sure you're not messing the bearing up when it's being pressed in?

    Also, what shop are you taking to for your alignments? WOuld they be the problem?
     
  4. Jake

    Jake Active Member

    Jason had his same problem in his wrx. Had to replace one if his fronts twice. I think some of the replacement bearings you buy can be bad
     
  5. Slowsoul

    Slowsoul Member

    Yes, I am aware of that. I do not track the car, but I am running 10mm spacers, and while that does increase the load on the bearings, it is not going to ruin a bearing in 8 hours. I have been running these spacers for a long time before having any issues. Only after pressing new bearings am I having a problem, and again...it is ONLY the left front wheel. The original lasted 110k, the second one lasted 2 months, the third one lasted 8 hours. The other three corners are just fine. The bearings were pressed correctly. There is something else going on here. I guess that it is a possibility that I happend to get 2 bad bearings in a row from worldpac. As I suspected and as PED suggested, I am leaning towards the spindle itself being damaged.

    And I am not worried about the shop, I wouldn't have taken my car there if that had been a question.
     
    Last edited: Jan 15, 2009
  6. pEd

    pEd This ain't no Piccadilly!

    I'd measure the spindle and see if it's in spec or damaged somehow.
     
  7. Slowsoul

    Slowsoul Member

    Maybe if I still had it off the car. If I were going to measure it, I would have to pull it off the car, press out the bearings, measure it...if it is bad, I have a down car and have to get another spindle and bearing. If it is good I only need to get a new bearing, but I still have a down car...either way the car is down longer than I can afford. I think I am just going to go ahead a look for a used spindle, get another bearing, press it, and have it ready so I have less down time.
     

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