I won the Lottery

[Mudfoot]

Bought a $1.00 Ohio Cash Explosion ticket and won $500. Bought $20 more, but didn't win. I was still pretty happy driving on my way home, then heard a God awful noise. Damn front wheel bearing seized up.

Gonna cost me more than $500.

Moral: Don't play the Lottery.

As I was sourcing the parts needed, I discovered my 17 year old Kia uses split tapered bearings that requires the use of, one out of 21 different spacers to set preload. Of course, there's a special tool and spacers, needed to accomplish this.

Ain't that the shit?

 

[Slowmover]

Received tax return. Yeah!
Clothes washer & water heater conk out following day. (Groan)

Sober up and it’s,

Thank you, Lord, for keeping the Post Office on time.

.

 

[Mudfoot]

Yep, that's usually how it goes.

 

[buickid]

That wheel bearing setup is surprising. Most mfg are moving to completely sealed unit hubs. Seems like a waste, but can't deny how convenient they are to replace...

 

[WECSOG]

Convenient? Front wheel bearing on my F350 is sealed unit. I've had to replace two of them in 130K miles. They cost $325 each, and you're not replacing one on the side of the road.
Front wheel bearing on my 1-1/2 ton Chevy costs less than 20 bucks, and you can replace it on the side of the road.
One of many reasons I hate "modern" vehicles.

 

[543_Dallas]

Convenient? Front wheel bearing on my F350 is sealed unit. I've had to replace two of them in 130K miles. They cost $325 each, and you're not replacing one on the side of the road.
Front wheel bearing on my 1-1/2 ton Chevy costs less than 20 bucks, and you can replace it on the side of the road.
One of many reasons I hate "modern" vehicles.

I've got a 2002 Dodge with sealed front wheel bearings. You buy the whole assembly wheel studs and all. It was around $250 10 years ago. Easy to replace but stupidly expensive.

 

[Handy Andy]

Await those moments when it does fail - when the only way it's coming off the hub is using a sledgehammer because of the long-term bonding established between the failed part, and the rest of the vehicle not willing to let it depart - willingly.

 

[Shadetree Mechanic]

The unit bearing hub is a disaster on the early dodge durango and dodge pickups. On the two wheel drive, when the bearing fails, the wheel will come completely off the vehicle.

 

[543_Dallas]

The unit bearing hub is a disaster on the early dodge durango and dodge pickups. On the two wheel drive, when the bearing fails, the wheel will come completely off the vehicle.

That's fantastic. I'm glad I replaced mine when I did. The ball joints were worn out around 130k and the left wheel bearing sounded dry. It has over 300k now but is rarely driven. I need to change the oil and fuel filters. I have a funny feeling it's going to be a cold winter so some fuel treatment might be a good idea.

 

[Mudfoot]

I have a guy from the Kia forum that's sending me the bearing spacer tool and a few spacers. You take the knuckle off and put it in a vice. The tool takes the place of the axle. When you install the bearings and torque to 150 ft. lb., it seats the bearing. Once that's done, you use a pull Guage to measure seal drag, which gives preload.

The preload value is matched to a chart that determines the thickness of the bearing spacer. There are 21 spacers to choose from. He's sending me a few of the thickest ones. I'll have to use 400 grit sandpaper to get the required thickness. It's a crappy system, but to much or to little preload will eat the bearings fast. I've read countless posts of dudes only getting a few hundred miles, or a few thousand miles of life out of replaced bearings. It's not a difficult repair, but sure is a critical one.

One good thing, the bearing are cheap and the knuckle hub assembly is easy to remove. I read this setup was changed when Hyundai acquired Kua in 2005. The Ford Festival used the same setup. Their tool and spacers also work on the Kia. I owned a 2002 Festiva. I don't recall changing a bearing, though. Now, my rear bearings are normal ones.

Engineers can be stupid....

 

[Mudfoot]

That wheel bearing setup is surprising. Most mfg are moving to completely sealed unit hubs. Seems like a waste, but can't deny how convenient they are to replace...

Yep! First time I've ever encountered it. It's a good thing I read about it. I just would have plopped new bearings in and reused the same spacer. I'm thinking that's what the previous owner/shop did, which is why it seized. Had to much preload. I rotated the tires the day I brought it home. I didn't notice any play or noise. I had no warning at all. Just seized up.

 

[338_MtRushmore]

This last spring I did u joints, seals and ball joints on my ford and discovered the unit bearing seal was leaking. It really sucks replacing an otherwise good hub due to a seal. I should really order one so I don't have to lock hubs this winter.

I come here for play and you all make me think about work. Yeah, thanks

 

[Slowmover]

Had some back pay finally catch up to me (yeah!)
Two days later,
Telephone died and there went that $500 (boo!)

 

[Rwb]

No money won here but dang assembled bearing pack went out in our esclade. Same as chebby 1500 wheel bearings $200 a side.think im puttin both in.
My 91 dodge 150 cost me $22.59 for every bearing n seal for front from rock auto. I got genuine timkin bearings stamped made in usA