Wheel Bearing replacement - Cost and recommendation
Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, CaryThe Triangle Area
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I did it myself on my 70 Chevelle about 10 years ago, took me about an hour. The bearing was $5 and the grease was $3.
But todays front wheel drive is a different scenario but I would be interested to see how many hours labor they billed you for.
I thought those Kia's had a 100K warranty?
Don't you also need a press to change an axle bearing? I remember the front bearings being inside a hub when they had front drums
In April I paid around $300 to replace one wheel bearing on my Camry. I needed one for a long time and got a few estimates, so I was prepared before I got to the auto repair shop. I drove for months with a roaring sound, but the noise disappeared as soon as I left the shop. IIRC, I posted about this on the Automotive Forum. I'm not sure if the cost of labor varies by region, but I had the work done in Franklin in WNC.
Plainjane - if I understood your post correctly, the dealer charged you $600, and the noise is still there?
You can do this check yourself to see if it's indeed the wheel bearing that's giving you problems: jack up the side of the car with the noise so that the tire can spin freely. Grab the tire at 3 o'clock and 9 o'clock and try to rock it. Grab it again at 12 o'clock and 6 o'clock and try to rock it again. Also try to push the tire in and out. If you detect any play when you do that, the wheel bearing needs to be replaced. It's a fairly simple test. Get your BF/SO/a neighbour to help if you have to, it shouldn't take more than 10 mins for everything.
Wheel bearings in today's cars are all sealed up, so they'd have to be replaced as a unit.
If the noise occurs when you're making a turn, it could be the CV joints ("constant velocity" joints). Usually the damage starts when the rubber boots get torn up and dirt, sand, and water can creep in. If it's the CV joint, you have a little more time to get it fixed.
I'd avoid the dealership you went to. If they can't diagnose the faulty part correctly (drive shaft/wheel bearing), and charge you $600 without fixing the noise, then I have a name for them. It begins with a "c" and rhymes with "rook".
Good luck, and please keep us posted if you can.
I agree completely, the shop should not only be able to distinguish which side has the bad bearing but if that's the actual problem.
Wow that seems high. We had a wheel bearing go out on a cross country trip and the front tire locked up. We changed it out on the side of the Interstate in about 2 hours including going to get the parts. If you can buy the whole hub assembly (how it was sold for 2500 duramax) it can be changed out pretty easy. Then you could save 3-400 dollars
Roam is right, you need a press. And it needs to be done on the vehicle, or you probably will have to do it over. Ask me how I know, lol. But the "toy airplane" sound is not that, sounds like it the ignition switch is worn out.
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