Front Wheel Bearing Replacement

[Indycars]

I'm hearing a noise in the front that varies with vehicle speed. Makes me think that the left front wheel bearing needs replacement.

The car is a 1998 Buick Park Avenue, so it's front wheel drive. The prices range from $65 to $150 for the hub assembly, you can't buy just the bearing from an auto supply. Can I disassemble the hub and then just purchase the new bearing from a bearing supply company ??? I have the factory manuals, but that doesn't help.

 

[grumpyvette]

http://www.amazon.com/Rendezvous-Chevro ... B003ZWJK8I

http://www.1aauto.com/1A/wheel-bearing- ... ParkAvenue

http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/raframe ... 91-1381887

the QUALITY of wheel bearings varies a great deal, most of the cheap bearings are imports that do not have the same durability as the better brand names.
the picture seems to indicate a modular unit with a sensor, it looks easy to replace but Id read thru a helms or haynes manual for instructions

 

[Indycars]

I bought the set of 3 factory manuals and it only show replacing the hub. But I know sometimes you can purchase just the bearing if you know where to go. Replacing the hub would certainly be the easiest, but not necessarily the most cost effective. Suppose it depends on how easy it would be to get the hub apart without damaging any of the other components.

 

[Indycars]

I got lucky the hub was making the noise, but it could have been something in the CV joints. Yes it was pretty easy, but you will need a 3 Jaw Gear Puller.

I still think it might be possible to rebuild the hub assembly saving sizable amount of money. I bought the Timken hub for $130, but if you could get it apart, then you might be able to make the repair for $50.

I don't have a press and my vise just wouldn't have the muscle for this job, so this is far as I got. I used a screwdriver to remove the sensor.

 

[grumpyvette]

a press pays for itself in very few jobs, it was a total no brainer for me, the local machine shop wanted $20 EACH to press out old u-joints and press in new U-joints, theres 6 in a corvette or if I supply the U-joints it would cost $120 PLUS the cost of the U-joints to have the shop replace them with me bringing them the two half shafts and drive shaft
the darn 12 ton press on sale was $109
I saved $10 on my first job BUYing a press on the first job alone over having the local machine shop press out the u-joints
and I know own the press

12 ton
http://www.harborfreight.com/12-ton-sho ... 33497.html
20 ton
http://www.harborfreight.com/20-ton-sho ... 32879.html

 

[Indycars]

I've thought about it, but the room it would use in a two car garage. I need to be selective, even when the cost is easy to justify.

I wonder if the inner race is the inner hub it's self, so replacing the bearing would not replace in the inner race. Otherwise, you would think there would be a core charge and one could buy them much cheaper.

 

[mathd]

The Timken hub are the best you could buy
On those W-body oldsmobile/buick/pontiac, the wheel bearing/hub never really last fo long(usually the sensor for the abs and traction control fail).
I beleave that a few years ago i read somewhere the timken are making the OEM bearing/hub and they only one that really last on these car.

I had a W-body Grand Prix 98 for a few years, had to replace the front/right one only so it wasnt really a reliability problem.
Got rid of the car, heater resistor blowing, and windows switches that dont last, water leak inside, and more(same for a friend of me with another w-body), i do think these w-body car have reliability issues. They are really good car when taken car of, but i wasnt happy with how much it need to be serviced often to keep it running well :/
The current owner of the car like it alot

Now about a press, that look like a weed-end welding project for me soon

 

[Indycars]

The Timken hub are the best you could buy.
My dad owned an M&W Auto Supply when the small independent could make a living.....back in the 60s and 70s. He's been gone for 5 years and retired for some 30 years now.

On those W-body oldsmobile/buick/pontiac, the wheel bearing/hub never really last fo long(usually the sensor for the abs and traction control fail).
I guess then it doesn't make sense to rebuild the hub if the sensor is going to fail. Maybe it has something to do with the bearing failure/over heating. Electronic don't like heat.

I beleave that a few years ago i read somewhere the timken are making the OEM bearing/hub and they only one that really last on these car.AutoZone was the only one that said Timken, where NAPA cost some $30 more, but didn't say anything but NAPA bearings. Usually they have better quality, so who knows.

I had a W-body Grand Prix 98 for a few years, had to replace the front/right one only so it wasnt really a reliability problem.
Maybe if you didn't use it for oval racing, then the RIGHT FRONT would NOT be a problem.

Now about a press, that look like a weed-end welding project for me soon
Well......if your weekend has time for TWO presses, then I'm ready, willing and able! Could you do it for the same price or higher quality, including the hydraulic cylinder ???

 

[mathd]

Now about a press, that look like a weed-end welding project for me soon
Well......if your weekend has time for TWO presses, then I'm ready, willing and able! Could you do it for the same price or higher quality, including the hydraulic cylinder ???

I am going to look at a few presses, i remember a few DIY press from the oldschool where they used a hydraulic car jack and some spring. That looks fairly easy to build, i can get all my steel locally cut how i want for really cheap .
It looked like this:
http://www.howdentools.ie/products/577B ... _Press.jpg

I could do 2 press but you should not trust in my fabrication and welding skill that much .
and since am in canada the shipping for such a big/heavy item to the usa will probably cost more then the price of the item itself :/.

 

[Indycars]

I could do 2 press but you should not trust in my fabrication and welding skill that much .
and since am in canada the shipping for such a big/heavy item to the usa will probably cost more then the price of the item itself :/.

Ok, well it was worth a try! Shipping from Canada might be a little expensive. But thanks for thanking of me!