I've got a bad bearing in the right front, confirmed by my mechanic. Indication of this problem was a noise, (that sounded like tires humming) which started at about 30 mph and increased proportionally to vehicle speed. My question is this: Is this a DIY job, or should I have a shop replace it? Also, is this something that should be covered under warranty (drivetrain)? Thanks.
Wheel Bearings
- Thread starter Wess
- Start date
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Ian Macoomb
SHO Member
I'm not sure if they'd classify that as drivetrain or not. Read the small print of your warranty. There's probably a list of items not covered and that might be one of them.
There was a guy selling brand new knuckles on e-bay a while ago. The knuckles were $100 for a pair and include the bearings and the ball-joints. Changing the knuckles is no more labour than changing the bearings. Not too bad of a job but I'd rather pay someone to do it. Should take about an hour a side.
There was a guy selling brand new knuckles on e-bay a while ago. The knuckles were $100 for a pair and include the bearings and the ball-joints. Changing the knuckles is no more labour than changing the bearings. Not too bad of a job but I'd rather pay someone to do it. Should take about an hour a side.
stephen newberg
SHO Member
Wheel bearings are not considered to be part of the drive train for warranty purposes.
Like Ian, though I have changed them myself, it is a job I normally leave to the shop since it is a mess but not all that time consuming.
pax, smn
Like Ian, though I have changed them myself, it is a job I normally leave to the shop since it is a mess but not all that time consuming.
pax, smn
Warranty
After I posted this I found my ESP warranty info, and the bearings are covered under the "Extra Care" warranty. I have the "Premium" warranty, so I was covered. All I had to do was cover the deductable, which is far less than the cost of a single bearing alone. I took it Apple Ford in Columbia, MD today and they got me squared away. Thanks for posting
After I posted this I found my ESP warranty info, and the bearings are covered under the "Extra Care" warranty. I have the "Premium" warranty, so I was covered. All I had to do was cover the deductable, which is far less than the cost of a single bearing alone. I took it Apple Ford in Columbia, MD today and they got me squared away. Thanks for posting
stephen newberg
SHO Member
Ah, excellent. yes, with that package on ESP they are covered. Though I do not remember the wheel bearings being that expensive. I think my deductable was $100 CA. I think each bearing was well under that, though if you are replacing both sides (good to do, since if one side is going the other is probably going to head that was soon too). $67 or something like that, IIRC. I could be getting that wrong, it was some time ago that I last repalced them.
There is no doubt that the Premium ESP is well worth the original investment, though. Unfortunately, mine has now expired. But during its life, I got many thousands of dollars of parts, not even considering labor costs, for the about one thousand dollar cost of the plan when I first bought the car. It was pretty close to extending the 3 year bumper to bumper warranty to 6 years. A very good deal.
pax, smn
There is no doubt that the Premium ESP is well worth the original investment, though. Unfortunately, mine has now expired. But during its life, I got many thousands of dollars of parts, not even considering labor costs, for the about one thousand dollar cost of the plan when I first bought the car. It was pretty close to extending the 3 year bumper to bumper warranty to 6 years. A very good deal.
pax, smn
stephen newberg
SHO Member
Always interesting to see how prices vary. Up here the deductible on the Premium ESP I had was $100 CA, which would be about $75 US, but the bearings were only $64 CA, or under $50 US each. I looked them up to see. Though that was over a year ago, so they may be more by now.
One thing I had my dealership do, just before the ESP was to expire at the end of its 6 year period, was to do a full inspection of the car, looking for anything that might be going or that they could justify replacing while it was still covered. They replaced the power steering pump, the alternator, and a pile of other smaller parts like the always wearing out sway bar end links and such, and that is not even considering all the things they have replaced over the years. I have no idea how FMC figures they can come out ahead on a warranty like that. I think it cost me just ofer $1000 CA when I got the car, which would be about $750 US. Over the years I would guess they have put in 6-7 times that solely in parts. And the labor charges, plus the taxes, would have been a good deal more.
pax, smn
One thing I had my dealership do, just before the ESP was to expire at the end of its 6 year period, was to do a full inspection of the car, looking for anything that might be going or that they could justify replacing while it was still covered. They replaced the power steering pump, the alternator, and a pile of other smaller parts like the always wearing out sway bar end links and such, and that is not even considering all the things they have replaced over the years. I have no idea how FMC figures they can come out ahead on a warranty like that. I think it cost me just ofer $1000 CA when I got the car, which would be about $750 US. Over the years I would guess they have put in 6-7 times that solely in parts. And the labor charges, plus the taxes, would have been a good deal more.
pax, smn
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