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Almost every car my family owns is over 200k miles, and we recently got rid of a 290k mile Volvo S80. I do all the work on all of our cars, and I've never had t

Almost every car my family owns is over 200k miles, and we recently got rid of a 290k mile Volvo S80. I do all the work on all of our cars, and I've never had to replace a wheel bearing.

rightbyte 2y ago
You got lucky. Wheel bearing failure is usually a damage (pot holes) or manufacturing defect that slowly propagates.
- talldatethrow 2y ago
  That's some great luck. 4 corners * 6+ cars between mine and parents * 200k each. Only advantage I guess could be that it's in California without rust or salt splashing everywhere.
iancmceachern 2y ago
We usually get 80-100k out of them on them: https://www.bellandbell.com/service/service-and-parts-tips/how-long-do-wheel-bearings-last/#:~:text=As%20mentioned%20previously%2C%20the%20average,life%20of%20your%20wheel%20bearings https://www.bellandbell.com/service/service-and-parts-tips/h.... I too have had cars that went far longer than this without replacement, but they probably should have been replaced. Just because you didn't have to, doesn't mean you shouldn't have.
- talldatethrow 2y ago
  If a dealership's marketing says they last 100k, you can be certain they'll go 200k. They don't call them stealerships for nothing. I'm as good of a mechanic as a diy gets. I've rebuilt entire auto transmissions instead of just sticking in another unit. I've regearied rear ends (which did get interior bearings while there). I do head gaskets as favors to friends. I'm fairly certain all of my 200k+ mile vehicles have had perfectly safe and functional bearings.
  - iancmceachern 2y ago
    When was the last time you had the alignment checked?
    - talldatethrow 2y ago
      Never because I don't trust 90% of alignment jobs done by regular shops. When we lifted our 4runner I did it myself with tape measures. 40k miles later tires wearing better than most new vehicles. But are you implying that a bearing can be so bad that it throws off alignment, yet I wouldn't feel that massive play while it's going down the road??
      - iancmceachern 2y ago
        I'm saying a lot of people wouldn't know the difference, and would just drive it until the wheels fall off.

Almost every car my family owns is over 200k miles, and we recently got rid of a 290k mile Volvo S80. I do all the work on all of our cars, and I've never had to replace a wheel bearing.

rightbyte 2y ago

You got lucky. Wheel bearing failure is usually a damage (pot holes) or manufacturing defect that slowly propagates.

talldatethrow 2y ago
That's some great luck. 4 corners * 6+ cars between mine and parents * 200k each. Only advantage I guess could be that it's in California without rust or salt splashing everywhere.

iancmceachern 2y ago

We usually get 80-100k out of them on them: https://www.bellandbell.com/service/service-and-parts-tips/how-long-do-wheel-bearings-last/#:~:text=As%20mentioned%20previously%2C%20the%20average,life%20of%20your%20wheel%20bearings https://www.bellandbell.com/service/service-and-parts-tips/h.... I too have had cars that went far longer than this without replacement, but they probably should have been replaced. Just because you didn't have to, doesn't mean you shouldn't have.

talldatethrow 2y ago
If a dealership's marketing says they last 100k, you can be certain they'll go 200k. They don't call them stealerships for nothing. I'm as good of a mechanic as a diy gets. I've rebuilt entire auto transmissions instead of just sticking in another unit. I've regearied rear ends (which did get interior bearings while there). I do head gaskets as favors to friends. I'm fairly certain all of my 200k+ mile vehicles have had perfectly safe and functional bearings.
- iancmceachern 2y ago
  When was the last time you had the alignment checked?
  - talldatethrow 2y ago
    Never because I don't trust 90% of alignment jobs done by regular shops. When we lifted our 4runner I did it myself with tape measures. 40k miles later tires wearing better than most new vehicles. But are you implying that a bearing can be so bad that it throws off alignment, yet I wouldn't feel that massive play while it's going down the road??
    - iancmceachern 2y ago
      I'm saying a lot of people wouldn't know the difference, and would just drive it until the wheels fall off.