How often should you change the front wheel bearings? It is not always obvious by looking at them.

thanks,
phil

 

well you have to check by lifting the car and seing how much play there is. grab the wheel with both hands and shake it, if the bearings are good it should not move.

 

Phil, when you say "looking at them", you mean when you've got 'em off, and in your hands? If they're not discolored or scored or otherwise ruined, they're probably fine to keep using. I never had to replace my originals, but did so when I got new rotors. It's been many miles since then, and I always just re-pack 'em. In fact, I repack them every time I change my front pads. I use valvoline synthetic grease.

And actually, ozzga, there will be -some- endplay, but it should be very slight.

 

I have a 108,000 on the original bearings and it is time to change rotors. I will look at them when I take off the rotors. I was going to clean them up with gas to see whether they are worn, scorched, etc.. I would just change them, but I have heard stories that the originals are much better than the ones you buy in the part stores.

any thoughts,
phil

 

The originals are not special in any way. Replacement ones are just as good. If you go to a place tha tcarries AC/Delco you might be able to buy the same thing as the originals, made by whomever and packaged as NDH (New Departure/Hyatt, the bearing division of GM).

Since you're changing the rotors, you're putting in new outer races anyway, since those press into the rotor. It's not real smart to replace just one part of a bearing with lots of use like that.

If you keep them greased properly and good seals on them, and nothing terrible happens to them like potholes or whatever, and you don't change the rotors, they can last almost forever. I think the OE ones went about 275,000 miles in my 83, before I had to put new rotors on it... I screwed up and didn't do a brake job when I should have....

 

Thanks for the info! What about the rear bearings? I have rear drum brakes. Is there bearings in the rear that I should be checking/changing?

phil

 

Not normally. You could take the axles out and change the bearings and seals if you just want to though.