Question About Rear Wheel Bearings
 

Fellow SVXers,
in the past weeks a terrible sound has been coming from my SVX's rear end, increasing as speed increases and reaching the peak loudness right around 55mph. It truly sounds like an elicopter about to take off. I jacked the SVX up with a friend, and we came to the conclusion that we are dealing with a set of bad wheel bearings. I've ordered a new pair from another friend that works at a parts store and he quoted me for $50 each side (total $100 + tax). I didn't know they could be that expensive! :(

Now my question is if any of you guys has had the same problem before, and if you know how hard are these puppies to replace. According to the Chilton, this is a 3.2 hour job, so it doesn't look as easy as it may seem at first.

I should be getting my bearings tomorrow, do you have any advice for me before I start wrenching?

Thanks in advance!

Walter

I'd suggest you use the search feature - there's a ton of info on them. Also search 'hub tamer'. If the job isn't done correctly you may not only damage the new bearings but also other parts. $$$

This is quite embarassing, I should have known better than posting before searching. I've found plenty of material to read to get ready for the 'big job'. Sorry about that.

Thanks again, I will start the job on Wednesday afternoon and post here if I get stuck.

Walter

No problem, you're not alone, many start out the same way. :) A lot of friendly folks here to help if you run into problems.

Thanks for baring with me Beav.
I'll tell you what... although it is full of very informative threads with step by step instructions, I didn't find a thread with pictures [yet] so I've decided that I will take pictures and write my own how-to on rear wheel bearing replacement. I already bought the Mobil 1 Synthetic grease and a 19oz can of electric parts cleaner, I'll pick up the bearings tomorrow and start prepping them.

I'll keep you posted, hopefully my thread will contribute with the others.

Walter

Main considerations:
Apply force only to the part involved - e.g. when pressing the bearing into the knuckle do not apply pressure to the inner races, doing so drives the bearings into the races, damaging them. When pressing the hub into the inner races buck up against the inner race on the opposite side. Look at what you're doing and understand where the forces will be applied.

The long bolt at the bottom of the knuckle that attaches the lateral links to the knuckle must be torqued properly, over-torquing usually results in deforming the knuckle and will cause premature bearing failure.

Beav, thanks again for the tips!

I picked up new bearings and seals today. I started cleaning the first bearing, and I ran out of cleaner before I could even finish it! I know everybody recommends to buy two cans of cleaner, but when I went to the parts store I found 11oz and 19oz cans, and I thought I would save $$$ by being a smartazz and buying 1 19oz can. It turned out I needed 2 19oz cans at least! Oh well...

Here are some low-res pics that I already took. I plan on making a nice guide with good quality pics written by somebody that never cleaned/changed bearings on a vehicle before.

http://www.miamidsm.addr.com/Data/SV...s/bp_small.jpg


http://www.miamidsm.addr.com/Data/SV...s/ba_small.jpg

Well... wish me luck tomorrow! ;)

Walter

For those of you that have been lucky enough - so far - and whose bearings haven't failed yet, here's a clip I made a couple of hours ago of my SVX driving from 0 to about 60mph, windows closed. The video clip doesn't do justice to the amount of noise the bearings are making inside the car, I can't even hear my cellphone ringing! :eek:

Please Don't Stream - Right Click... Save As.

Tell me that doesn't sound like an elicopter is chasing me!

Let me know what you think.

Walter

Holy ****! That is the worst I have ever heard.
Please take close ups of what is left of the bearings when you get them out.

Oh, trust me I was gonna do that! :)

Walter

Holy crapppppp! I thought mine was loud...

I'm not sure if my bearings are going again or if they're my crappy tires.

Is it really loud like that or is the microphone exaggerating? Can you hear your radio or have a conversation with your passenger?

It's funny when you go from a car with bad bearings and sit in someone else's car and its like "wow you're car's so quiet"

As I said, the microphone is actually dampening the sound a lot. I am not exaggerating when I say that I can barely hear my radio (besides the beat) and I must yell to speak to a passenger. Forget about phone calls, when I really gotta take a call (assuming I hear it) I must slow down below 35-40mph to be able to hear. :(

Walter

the wheel bearings must gone out from driving around with your wheels submerged in water from all the hurricanes;)

Geeeez..... I bet they just started making noise a day or so ago? ;)

ilsegretosvx: Nah, Miami didn't get hit as bad thankfully.

Ahem... of course not! As soon as I heard the slightest noise, I stopped driving her! *cough* http://www.miamidsm.addr.com/phpBB2/...on_redface.gif

Walter