Front wheel bearing life
 

With my XK8 2000 and 45,000 miles on the clock what mileage would I expect to have to replace the front wheel bearings? The car has been a daily driver since I have owned it ( little over two years) and is driven in a very modest way mostly by my wife. And with it being a 2000 year would I expect the bearings to be the upgraded 80mm size?

Thanks for you help guys.


EZDriver 2000 XK8 1995 XJ6

My first XK8, a '00 with complete maintenance records that did not identify any wheel bearing replacement, made it until 106k miles without any problems. Failure issues more associated with a traffic light.

Worry about something else.

Had one changed at 122k and now at 169k it sounds like I'm due for the other.

Mine lasted until 100000 miles , then both went within a few weeks ,
I think it was the 20" wheels that laid them to bed :icon_bricks:

Nik

What do they sound like as they're wearing out?

I've always found this tough to describe. It's a sound like a heavy dry solid metal object rolling along a concrete floor, rough yet rolling, and it increases with speed both in volume and pitch (perceived frequency). the worse it gets the louder it gets. Did that make sense?

A test you might try, although I've only used this on front wheel drive. While rolling along a wide road with no traffic, swing the wheel side to side making S-turns. The noise from the bearing will change depending on the direction that you're turning. Sometimes as bad as OFF-ON-OFF-ON as you go from side to side. Don't be so aggressive that you get the tires to make noise, just looking to change the load on the bearings.

OK, thanks!

With my '97 at 115K, and not knowing if they were ever changed, I have tried some static testing to see if I could hear anything. Wheels off the ground, spin at different speeds, stethescope, 6-12 and 3-9 rocking, etc. I don't hear anything that way, and sometimes I "think" I hear noises on the road, but it could be my tires, the road, or other things. If I ever get to replacing the sway bar bushings I'll give it some more road/load testing.

If you can't hear anything and don't feel any freeplay I would say you're in good shape. The one on mine that's making noise has some free play when wiggling the tire off the ground. That one has made it 169,000+ miles.