wheel bearing, thought it was a worn tire

[mrdeath2000]

Thought I had a worn tire (the sides are pretty worn) from the sound it was making. Kinda like my meaty Jeep tires. Turns out it was a wheel bearing from those damned autozone drum brakes (lasted 15 months ~25-30,000miles).

30 minutes to swap them, luckily under warranty, hope there's no hassle taking both back.

What really led me to noticing it was a bearing not a tire is driving over a cement section of road after an asphalt section. THe sound didnt change, a tire problem it would have.

The drums were fine, just the bearing. Getting a press soon I think and if they last a few months I'll be ok and just press in some timkens.

[Sponsor]

[Milton]

Did you replace the bearings 25,000 miles ago?

[mrdeath2000]

I did brakes 25,000 miles or so ago. Autozone showed a purchase date of 12/8/2011. So they wern't originally replaced because of bearings, but because it needed brakes and they come with the bearing pre-pressed in.

I just thought I would pass on the info of deferring the difference between bad camber wear on a tire vs bearing.

I've had bearings go bad in the past, buy they usually had a little grind in the noise to them.

[Milton]

Asking because I was thinking if using pre-pressed bearings, but had concerns about the bearings used. Guess I'll press my own.

Thanks

[mrdeath2000]

pre-pressed isnt bad. What my searching shows is that the duralast/el cheapos bearings have plastic cages for the bearings and that's what fails.

If you have a press, you can do it. Check Rockauto, i think timkens are about $25 each.

[USARice]

I fail to understand why the Focus goes through so many rear bearings. I had 3 tRacers and 1 Escort all in excess of 100k and never did a single bearing. I am at 95k on my FoFo and will be doing my 3rd rear bearing in under the last 50k. Good grief. :(

Sent from Gods Country

[Milton]

Originally Posted by USARice

I fail to understand why the Focus goes through so many rear bearings. I had 3 tRacers and 1 Escort all in excess of 100k and never did a single bearing. I am at 95k on my FoFo and will be doing my 3rd rear bearing in under the last 50k. Good grief. :(

3 sets of rear bearings in 95K is excessive!! My 2007 Focus SES has ~85K miles and it's on the original set of rear bearings.

No offense man but I would have to think you have an issue some place else such as other damage/worn parts causing premature failure, using extremely inferior parts, improper replacement procedures or improper lubrication.

[amc49]

The bearing will die way prematurely if not torqued to the full torque spec. Also, many of the 'lifetime warranty' Autozone and O'Reilly bearings are crap, I personally experienced one with absolutely no grease in it, failed starting first day. The replacement BCA has been running for a long long time now. Not even pressed, knocked in with a hammer but doable if one knows how. Almost every one I do like that, none dead yet. Got a hammered in rear Focus drum one now that's been in car at least 3 years. People here say Timken is good.

[gfaemrvk]

I just thought I would pass on the info of deferring the difference between bad camber wear on a tire vs bearing.

[my_beautious_ZX3]

Originally Posted by mrdeath2000

What really led me to noticing it was a bearing not a tire is driving over a cement section of road after an asphalt section. THe sound didnt change, a tire problem it would have.

that's an excellent observation.

When my rear bearing went out, it blindsided me because I had cupped tire noise on the rears for so long that I was in the habit of ignoring any growl from back there.