So I brought the car to fix the rear differential leak and the mechanic told me that all 4 wheels bearings need a replacement. $1390
how that can be so expensive... ?
any hints ?

 

That's a staggering amount of money for wheel bearings.

The parts for all 4 wheel bearings would cost around £50-£60 (say $90).

Assume 1 hour for each front and 2 hours for each rear (that's being very, very generous) that's 6 hours so more than $200 per hour labour.

Go somewhere else or do it yourself - it's quite straight forward. Or I think I can do it for less including my flights from the UK and excess baggage costs for my tools. Let me know if you want a quote.

 

Hi xjfourty,

Ditto on Brendan's comments, although you may not be able find the bearings quite as inexpensively in the U.S.

I think you have added your Jag model, year and engine to your signature but it's not showing up, perhaps because you are using your phone to post? If you will select "View Full Site" on your phone, your signature may show up so we don't have to try to remember your car's details. I think you told us in another thread that you sold your Series III but still have an X300?

Cheers,

Don

 

It depends. If it's the bearings in the hub, then the hubs have to be taken out of the car and pressed out. It's not trivial to get the hubs out of the car, especially if there is some rust.

If it's the output shaft bearings of the differential, then that is a lot more complicated. Unfortunately it looks like the full size photos got lost in the site upgrade, but here is a quick look at output shaft bearing replacement:
Part 1: Welcome to Jag-lovers - Members Photo Viewing Page
Part 2: Welcome to Jag-lovers - Members Photo Viewing Page

Wheel bearings:
Part 1: Welcome to Jag-lovers - Members Photo Viewing Page
Part 2: Welcome to Jag-lovers - Members Photo Viewing Page
Part 3: Welcome to Jag-lovers - Members Photo Viewing Page
Part 4: Welcome to Jag-lovers - Members Photo Viewing Page

 

Without having done it on the X300 , the front bearings are suppose to be straight forward but the rears are not . Don't forget to flush out the low quality shipping grease and put in the proper rated bearing grease . And don't go cheap with the Ebay bearings , but go with a name brand or you'll get to revisit the repair . If you want to go cheap you can remove the bearings you have , flush them out , and " repack by hand " the originals as they have probably never been repacked and see how the originals do . The check for bad bearings is the sound as you spin them on car up on a jack and the wheel wiggle or play , keeping in mind other things that could be loose . As a general rule the proper torque is applied to seat the bearing while spinning the wheel and then back off the torque to the last safety locking devise line up . There is a specific procedure on the X300 I faintly remember seeing .

Some one will have more information on the X300 but this will get the ball rolling and corrections

https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...ed-how-125719/

 

Thanks, Jagboi64,

I'm waiting to hear from the mods at Jag-Lovers; they say they're looking for volunteers to help move photos over to the new server so I've volunteered to move mine. We'll see how it goes!

Cheers,

Don

 

Holy crap, no wonder why Jaguars are costing lunch money over the pond and people are selling them with very insignificant problems. Thats one thing with these cars - mechanics and workshops are trying to treat you like you`re driving ar Rolls or a Ferrari.
Here, where I live, wheel bearing change will cost you some 50USD per wheel (thats only labour cost). But, better to save those 50 bucks, grab some beer and snacks for 10 and off to the garage!

 

$50 Labor to do front wheel bearing on a Jag would be the bargain of the century, especially if the car was driven on salted roads.

Even someone good would likely take over 2 hours/wheel if the ABS nut hangs and they have to cut it off, and the cost of new nut comes out of $50 I presume?

If the car was driven on salted roads, I would charge a friend $200/wheel labor and that friend would be happy to pay it, while he stands on the 3/4" drive 6 foot long breaker bar to hold the $100 socket onto the ABS nut while applying 250 lbft of torques.

With parts, that's about close to $1000, and that's a friend.

 

See, here in Latvia, things are a bit different. Overall average salary is something around 1000eur (people working "regular" jobs, for example, store salesman, office clerk, etc. will get less than that), rent prices are lower, various things are cheaper, for example, organic food, phone bills, etc.
So it sums up the picture.
I`ve never changed the wheel bearings on a Jaguar, but I guess, that on a Bmw you can expect some 30-40eur per wheel for labor. Thats a bit offtopic, sorry.

 

On a GM car, I would charge my friends $25/wheel + parts to change wheel bearings and feel like I was ripping them off .


Jags wheel bearings are a whole different deal. Sure, you can get new bearings for $12, but... that is the least of your worries...


and pray the ball joint boots are not torn.

 

The only flaw I find in Brendan's post is I'm dubious his $90 in parts would include the two very special nuts required for the rear hubs. Those are $25 ea. anywhere I've looked. And if you try to re-use those after taking them off.....save yourself some trouble and don't bother replacing the rear bearings...nor even bother with disassembly. Just drive it til the rears wobble off and pass you going down the road.

 

@aholbro1 - Good point I forgot about the hub nuts. Even so, here's the current price of parts from British Parts Front Bearing x 2 - £17.86 Rear Bearing x 2 - £25.50 Hub Nut x 2 - £31.50 Total £74.86 (so about $105) @Ungn - I think you may be talking about the X308 front bearings with your reference to the ABS nut. X300 front bearings are old school simple.

 

A comment at something of a tangent to the flow of the thread, but am I alone in finding it unusual that all 4 wheel bearings need replaced at the same time?
Sure, if you were restoring the car you might want to do this, but in the context of running repairs, it seems odd to me.
Added to the cost issue, I would at least get a second quote, and likely change mechanic

 

Thanks.


I thought they updated the front ends in '95, but I guess it wasn't until a couple years later.


Maybe the shop is thinking Press in sealed bearing?

 

This.
I can understand when bearings have to be changed on the same axle, but all four - I just cant believe, that all of them are worn out.

 

Depends on how neglected the car has been! Last year I had to do a complete differential and rear end rebuild on my XJS - everything was completely worn out. From the differential the only thing I saved was the crownwheel and pinion. Everything else was trash. I was actually amazed at how well it had held together.

 

so guys here is.
I just picked up the car. They fixed a differential leak.
this is what they did on the rear right side/axle

• Differential Seal NLA 1/17 $93.50
• Wheel Bearing $31.74
• Output Shat Spacer $53.98
• Axle Nut $29.25
• Gear Oil-Rear Differential 75W-90 $80.10

Labor: $407
Parts: $288.57
Subtotal: $696.07


add $36.69 taxes and $10 differential inspection total is 742.76


they told me hte problem with the differential was induced by the bad bearing on the wheel. And tht I should address the bearing problem especially on the rear wheels.


Here is their quote:

• WHEEL BEARING - Remove & Replace - Read,Both $1390
• WHEEL BEARING - Remove and Replace -Both Front $656

the car is driving very smooth and I do not feel any problem. it's just driving slightly steering on the right side. No bearings noise.


The mechanic told me I hear no noise because the car is heavy...
I don't really know...


Also he told me these differentials lasts no more than 120000mi usually.
is it true ? he also told me if I do not address the worn bearing problem in the real wheels this will affect differential reliability...


also I did not find any reference to any rear differential fluid filter replacement. Shouldn't be a filter in there to be replaced when flush and refill the differential fluid ?
thank you

 

These cars are a bit notorious for needing rear wheel bearings so it's at least plausible that all 4 might need replacing. I strongly suspect there are loads of 'em running around needing wheel bearings but they just haven't reached the point of being loud enough for anyone to notice or bother.

But it surely would be smart to to ask "why?" and "how bad are they?" . Or get a second opinion, as you say.

As for previous remarks regarding total cost, one thing I noticed was the OP location of San Francisco. Not sure about nowadays but for may years the labor rates there were notoriously high...often 50% higher than Los Angeles.

Also, the measuring and re-shimming for correct preload on the rear bearings can gobble up time. I'll wager that many skip this step on the presumption....probably correct in most cases....that the new bearings so closely match the old ones that the fit will be the same.

It would be interesting to see the itemized quote for the suggested repairs, if one was given. If not, why not?

Cheers
DD

 

I'm not really clear on what they've done. An output shaft seal on the diff?

The price for the gear oil stands out for sure !


Hmmm. I'd have to mull that a bit

Worn bearings should be replaced, yes



Get itemized estimates.

The quote for the front bearings also seems quite high to me

Not entirely unusual. They just have gotten bad enough. or....they're not bad at all. Not sure. I'd get a second opinion


Mine failed a 77,000

They're not as robust as the older style. Not unusual to hear of them wearing out sooner than expected



No filter for the differential

Cheers
DD

 

I do not have a itemized quote...
anyway he told me another thing. The speedometer sensor detached form the hub housing when he replaced the bearing on the differential side. It does not sty in place and he put Loctite to keep it in place. if it stops working he told me I will have to replace the whole hub housing where the sensor is fitted in... other $500 to spend or so...
If this will happen I will just buy a GPS speedometer I think.

Another thing this mechanic quoted me $382 for valve cover gasket remove and replace.
I bought the replacement parts and my chinese mechanic will do it for $90.