Advice on rear bearings.

[jps49]

All,

I am being told my rear bearings are shot and judging from the "howling" , they probabably are. What can I expect to be charged for this repair from a dealer or an independant? Anything else that could be causing this howling?

 

[WickedWindsor]

Usually depends on mileage. You can usually go pretty darn far on rear bearings before they fail. Excessive loads and/or towing could also speed up failure though.

Does it howl under acceleration AND deceleration or one not the other?

rear gears can howl pretty good when they go bad as well.

It's not difficult to change bearings, you just need a good puller to get them out. They tend to be testy to get out sometimes.

re&re bearings should be about a 2 hr shop labour charge. New seals, bearings, diff fluid for parts charge.

 

[swetrid]

He has independent rear so you don't need fluid, seals. Bearings are like $100 each and about 4-5 hours to do both sides. Depending on how bad they are the ebrake shoes could be damaged.

 

[jps49]

Thanks for the feedback. 140k miles and the howling does gradually fade upon deceleration. I bought the truck at 60k miles and the diff has never been serviced..is that bad?

 

[Carguy3J]

I've done several of these, and they are a pain in the ass. If you want to do it yourself, plan on removing the whole spindle (from each side) and taking it, with the new bearing AND hub, to a shop w/ a press. Once they fail, they can sometimes be VERY difficult to get out, even w/ a large shop press. Also, YES, you do need both the bearing and the hub. They form a wear pattern with each other, and they should be replaced together.

I would also assume, unless you know they've been done very recently, that you will need new e-brake shoes. They have a tendency to just fall apart.

 

[BrooklynBay]

Welcome to this forum! I've moved your thread into the stock 2002-2005 section.

 

[unclemeat]

I've done several of these, and they are a pain in the ass. If you want to do it yourself, plan on removing the whole spindle (from each side) and taking it, with the new bearing AND hub, to a shop w/ a press. Once they fail, they can sometimes be VERY difficult to get out, even w/ a large shop press. Also, YES, you do need both the bearing and the hub. They form a wear pattern with each other, and they should be replaced together.

I would also assume, unless you know they've been done very recently, that you will need new e-brake shoes. They have a tendency to just fall apart.

What he said. My 05 is on its third left rear bearing, 65,000-miles. Cost at a shop in my area was about $375 bearing and spindle. My mechanic uses his sawzall to cut through a portion of the bearing, then they will press out.