Front Wheel Bearings. Have I been scammed?

[ehbobeh]

Hi,

I have an EL with 112,000km on the clock. I took it down to get a wheel balance at a Tyre dealer and was told that the front wheel bearings are worn. I jacked up the front of the car and there was definitly play when I moved the tyre on each axis. I took the car to a different mechanic and paid for new bearings to be fitted. I still had a little wobble in the steering so decided to jack up the car again. The wheel still has some play in each axis. I took the cup off the hub and the grease is a different colour.

What do you think?

Have the bearings been replaced?

or

Have they simply regreased and re-tightened the hub?

or

They have done the work and there is another problem?

Thankyou, Bob

[EA2BA]

they need to be re-tensioned so to speak after X amount of k's

the nut in the middle has to be done to tight then backed off 1/2 a turn from memory.

did the mechanic ask you to bring it back for adjustment after so many k's.

[ehbobeh]

No he didnt ask me to do bring it back and the car has only done about 150km's since sending the car to him. The fact that it had play before and still has now, has got me suspicious. I asked him how long/kms new bearings should last and he did not answer only to say. "The grease should be replaced every 10,000km".

[gregaust]

Regrease every 10k, mmmm he must be chasing some work.. Grease lasts a lot longer than that. On fleet vhicles where i work bearings are checked repacked at 180k.

[ehbobeh]

Yep, I agree. I thought bearings last about 100,000kms.

[RG]

Originally Posted by ehbobeh

Yep, I agree. I thought bearings last about 100,000kms.

I've never replaced the front bearings in mine, in fact i've only ever replaced the rear passenger side one. Mine's done 435,000k too by the way and I've had it since 123,000k. Mine are due for replacement though.

[BENT_8]

If you have or can get hold of a tension wrench i would torque the hub nut to the factory spec- 30Nm or 22.15FtLb then back the nut off 90* and check the play again.

[fairmont1998]

How much play are we talking about? There has to be a small amount of play, otherwise you will chew the bearings out in no time.
Mine have 116000 on them now and are good as gold. Cleaning, inspecting and regreasing every 50000 will see them last a long time.

[ehbobeh]

If you raise the wheels off the ground and hold the top and bottom of the wheel and push/pull the wheel and it has movement. The right wheel doesnt move at all. I dont think there should be any play and wheel can still turn freely. Can any licensed mechanics out there help?
The wheel had movement before and still has it now so I think they have simply regreased the bearings and scammed my money.

[naughtyfalcon]

which is why you buy the stuff yourself and ask to see the old parts.

[5L]

sounds more like ball joints than wheel bearing- either your upper or lower ball joints have had it. dont take it to a mechanic to do the work, take it to a suspension specialist.

[lowltd]

There should be no play in the wheel, but it should turn freely a couple of times and then stop. It's an easy job if you know how. Get a friend to turn the steering wheel from side to side about half a steering wheel turn and check for movement in all your steering linkages as well, you will need to do it with and without the motor running to eliminate play from the power steering pump. While under there check for leaks from the power steering rack and the condition of the steering boots.

[SrsIIE8]

Alway's ask for your old part's back to see if they have been replaced, also if your bearing had worn bad, the part number on the cone would have worn considerably, maby even completely off, so see if the part number's are easly visible, should read something like LM67048 i tink?