Hi Bruce,
I have replaced a wheel bearing on my Saab 93 at 50k and just had to have another replaced at 56k, so I know how you feel.
Having travelled over 800,000 miles in the last 15 years I have replaced more than a few in my time. It seems to me that its all about keeping costs down initially, anyway. I'm sure that if they wanted to they could offer a better engineered alternative, which would probably be twice the price, but last twice as long.
I see it all day long in my field -Heavy engineering / Construction. Very littleis over engineered today compared to yester years machines, ALL down to costs!
By the time they do that with the suspension, brakes, steering, engine etc etc etc..............the car would be well out priced by the competitors.
I guess from their point of view its much easier to offer them as replacement parts AND sting you even more at a later stage.
Infuriating, but there it is.

Jim C

 

I did many of those...but never on my own ride. I found that most of them fail due to excessive heat generated by excessive braking, people who ride their brakes, heavy loads....and the like.

As for replacing them, i have found that if you have the option to buy them already pressed in the hub, that is the best way to get them. Most local shops don't have the right type of press to "press" the bearing into the hub and actually cause more damage when installing them. To do the job correctly, a 20 ton press is ideal, with the right plates...but most shops just use a clamp and end up pressing on the inner bearing and damaging it...hense, the reason the second bearing fails sooner......

so, if you need new bearings, best bet buy them already pressed into the hub...cost more, but will last longer and that's where your savings come in.....

 

Hi racer,
I'll go along with some of what you're sayin, but, of course it may also have sumthin to do with the fact that (on average) I do approx 4x times the mileage that most everyday drivers do.......lol

But I also agree with what you said about the 2nd / 3rd bearings etc being fitted.
I have customers who have run the original screen bearings for maybe 2,3, 4 years or more. Yet when they start retro fitting them they seem to have to replace them every 12-18 months, or in some extreme cases every 6 months has been known.

Jim C

 

Thanks Jim,
you know I wouldn't bullshit a bullshitter....lol
I forgot to mention that I think folks who put alot of highway miles and very little city driving also get more miles out of the bearing/engine/brakes/transmission...

i think i posted a post about a salesman who has logged over 1 million miles or was it 300k hell i don't remember...on his jag with very little repairs being done....i'll have to do a search and see if i can find that article....

 

Yeah racer, I saw the one. Think Buck posted it as well.
Some salesman or other had an X that he put nearly 300k miles on in bout 3 years ( Now thats a lot) and some guy in his company bought it for £2500 or thereabouts and its still a sweet runner with very few problems.
To be fair though, like my Saab, any Company car needs ANYTHING doing to it and there isn't a question over cost - its a case of just do it!
Regular servicing and maintenance pays dividends - its that simple!

Jim C

 

Yep, take care of your ride and she'll take care of you....and maybe even last longer lol (I think they call it preventive maintenace here in the US)

 

Funnily enough, thats whatwe call it "over here" too racer..........pmsl

Jim C

 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/...23/mfjag23.xml

 

You say his name and as if by majic he appears and posts the article......lol...........cheers Buck

Jim C

 

hmmmmm lets try something......

Camren Diaz

 

Halle Berry or Charlize Theron maybe?
Pamela Anderson - mmmmmmmmm Pammy 4 sure, ohhh yeah!

Jim C

 

lol...calm down big guy...

 

lol........k
Am calm!

JC

 

That car is awesome. Crappy that it comes with cloth though, what was jag thinking?

 

As racer said thats why old peoples cars all blow out blue smoke. The old people driving all of the crown vics they never get the gas running through the car, the carbon doesn't get blown out the tail pipe like it should. Also look at all of the cop cars out there that all smoke because all they do is sit and idle wherever they are driven to and put in park, the cars run the entire time the officer is on-duty. The cop cars smoke and they get rid of them as soon as they get over 70k miles!