got wheel alighnment done today, was told my wheel bearings needed adjustment, uhmmm...i didn't know you could adjust them. Any truth to this or am i going back demanding some $$$$ back.

 

I've never heard of wheel bearings needing adjustment. Perhaps they ment something else, or they were trying to take your $$$. Did they charge extra for this adjustment? Usually alignments are a set cost, and they adjust what they need to. If something is worn, (or even when it isn't) they will usually tell you it needs replacing. Crappy Tire is great for telling you stuff that is fine is worn out.

 

i havent heard of adjusting the bearings either. however, my knowledge in this area is extremely limited. i thought that you just re-packed them with bearing grease every now and then. but i like i said dont know much, if anything, in this area.

 

I don't know if this would be considered "adjustment" but maybe what they did was remove the wheels, the dust cover and the cotter pin from the wheel bearing nut, then tighten the nut and reinstall everything. They might have done this if there was alittle play in the wheel itself. If this is what they did, there shouldn't have been any extra cost as it would take only a few minutes to do.

 

yes kev thats exactly what they did, i just found out after the fact, yes they charged $37 for both sides @ goodyear service, all along i was lead to believe the re-packed and maybe using a different term, oh well now i know. Thanks guys

 

If you paid a flat-price for a wheel alignment- this would imply they will make all adjustments to tie-rods and such to accomplish the alignment.

Loose wheel bearings wouldn't be a part of this 'repair' or 'adjustment'- but in the same respect- if wheel bearings have worn to the point that the nut has to be tightened or 'adjusted'- the bearings are basically 90% fu%ked. As a maintenance item, you repack them, and as a result of this you would have to reinstall them correctly- i.e. "adjustment" is automatic. If you paid for a wheel bearing re-pack, this charge is total BS and they're just ripping you off. If they did not re-pack the bearings and merely 'adjusted' them- they have done you no favours, because if they in fact did need to be 'adjusted' you are not very far away from the bearings disintegrating. My suggestion is: re-pack the bearings yourself if they did not do this and check their condition and avoid these nickel-and-dime operators in the future. If they overtightened the nuts and did not re-pack the bearings- this would also hasten their demise and have you back sooner rather than later for the bearings to be replaced- i.e. maybe this is just a future 'repair' they have hastened along. Either way- I would investigate other shops.

For future reference- factory time guide for '82-92 f-bodies list 1.1 to 1.6 hours to re-pack both front bearings (this includes all elements including reinstallation with appropriate 'adjustment') and 1.2 to 2.2 hours to pack and replace new bearings (excluding price of new bearings themselves). Keep in mind that 're-pack' is shorter than pack new bearings because it doesn't necessarily mean a complete removal of old grease- just stuffing new grease in- possibly without full disassembly of the inner rotor seal and removal of inner bearings from the rotor.