Had to Replace a Hub - Has This Happened To You?

[04MRADR]

Yesterday I had installed new rear tires. The fronts were installed earlier in the week, we had to wait for the rears to arrive from North Carolina. I got Goodyear Eagle F1s. (See my separate thred on how pleased I am). After my mechanic of nearly 40 years drove the car to road test it he brought it back in the garage, put it on the lift and called me out to the shop. When he rotated the right front it was super obvious the right front hub was gringing away. The bearings were shot. The bearings cannot be replaced, only the entire hub. Part cost $ 253 plus labor to install. Came to around $ 300 in total since I was having other work done. I was wondering if any other club members had to do a hub replacement? And yes, I rotated the left front and saw a dramatic difference. It was clear something wasn't correct with the right front. I also noticed after replacing the hub that the very slight shimmy I had in the steering previously disappeared as well. It wasn't the alignment since my mechanic did an alignment earlier in the week when the front tires were replaced and the very slight shimmy was still there. Since the hub was replaced its like driving a new Marauder out of the show room.

[BAD MERC]

Not yet on mine. Next time you might wanna scout Ebay - I see them with a 'buy-it-now' of about $100 pretty frequently. It seems easy to install and looks like it through-bolts onto the spindle with basic tools.

[SMOKE]

Had my right-front done under warranty at the 30K interval service at the dealer. I never noticed it, but I guess that's what the dealer is paid to do...

Right side of any car usually gets the short end of the stick. Right-hand side of the road is more often in worse shape than rest of the road (ruts, pot holes, debris), or bump a curb on the blind side of your car, whatever the circumstance.

Have had replacement done on a Town Car as well...didn't notice that one until I started hearing clicking during RH turns and some feeback through the steering wheel...

JWM

[MitchB]

The left front hub on my father's 03 has had excessive play that I know of for a while now. No grinding or abnormal tire wear though. This hub was probably defective when the car was built. I'll replace it some time soon.

Mitch

[MitchB]

Had my right-front done under warranty at the 30K interval service at the dealer. I never noticed it, but I guess that's what the dealer is paid to do...

Right side of any car usually gets the short end of the stick. Right-hand side of the road is more often in worse shape than rest of the road (ruts, pot holes, debris), or bump a curb on the blind side of your car, whatever the circumstance.

Have had replacement done on a Town Car as well...didn't notice that one until I started hearing clicking during RH turns and some feeback through the steering wheel...

JWM

Hey, the car is still under extended warranty. Maybe we'll see if the dealer will address this along with the noisy differential (soft axles).

Mitch

[cougar9150]

Going to replace mine soon since the front end took a hard smack. I got most of my shimmy gone but still isn't 100% back to normal. Just going to order parts online and do it myself.

[Eric91Z]

I had my left front replaced as part of the fix from my accident last year. They actually wanted to go with the heavy duty aftermarket Timken (sp?) unit which was $100, but instead they used the factory piece which was $200+. Oh well since it was paid by insurance.

I do think that at least 1, if not both, are shot on the CVPI. Doesn't act up until I have done 20 or so miles at highway speeds. You exit the road, come to a stop, and then turn from that stop and I get a grinding noise/feeling which I believe is from the front. Does it every time you turn after that until the car has sat for a while (cooling down?). And only does it when turning from a stop - never does it when going straight from a stop.

Then again, it is an ex patrol car, so I am not too put off by that.

[Stranger in the Black Sedan]

I have bought ebay bearing/hub assy's before. Some of them are aftermarket made in china no name parts. Be careful and make sure you know if you are getting name brand stuff or not.

[RoyLPita]

I've seen a few get replaced on OASIS but it is not a chronic issue.

[Stranger in the Black Sedan]

It's just what happens when you have a sealed bearing that you can't take apart, inspect, and re grease periodically. It's gotta go at some point