I was wondering if my idea is correct.

RADARsx 2.0 · Post by **RADARsx 2.0** » Fri Oct 16, 2009 10:44 pm

Well since i've owned my car I've gone through 3 right rear wheel bearings and 2 left wheel. I've ruled them off to "junk" bearings or bad luck I thought. But now that I got a 4th going on the right side i'm wondering if cause I got a set of rear strut mounts that aren't totally perfect would this cause them to go faster? I honestly don't think that this would but man..I know how to put wheel bearing in and now i'm just tired of forking out like 50 bucks or something like that every 2-4 months...

Any Ideas anyone?

Post by **occasional demons** » Fri Oct 16, 2009 11:16 pm

A bad alignment may cause enough stress to make it fail, but why would it not wear the right tire also?

Another possibility may be static buildup. The front struts (should)have a ground strap for that reason, tho it isn't as serious as it was on the early L body cars. You could try attaching a ground to the rear knuckle if the rear alignment is good.

RADARsx 2.0 · Post by **RADARsx 2.0** » Fri Oct 16, 2009 11:25 pm

As far as I know the alignment is good cause my tires are wearing in no wierd ways. hmmm...so strut mounts probably arent the cause..ok...cause I know I put TONS of miles on her driving back and for the work...bout 2000/week.

fixitmattman · Post by **fixitmattman** » Sat Oct 17, 2009 12:33 pm

How have you gone throught that many bearings? I'm at 249,000km and only done the fronts once (maybe 20,000km ago) and the rears are still original. Shit bearing or not you shouldn't be going throught that many.

What was the torque on the spindle nut? One sure fire way to take out a bearing in a hurry is improper pre-load.

RADARsx 2.0 · Post by **RADARsx 2.0** » Sat Oct 17, 2009 3:54 pm

do like i've always done on a rear bearing...tighten to snug and then back off about an 1/8th turn...

did that to other neons that we had at the dealership I worked at before and to any car i've worked on and have to this day never had one go bad...

TheRandom1 · Post by **TheRandom1** » Sat Oct 17, 2009 4:47 pm

Except for the 7 (I think that's how many I counted) on your car. Perhaps you're doing it wrong?

Post by **occasional demons** » Sat Oct 17, 2009 4:56 pm

I thought the rear bearings were unit bearings. Torque on the rear nut is like 160 ft/lbs. If you are backing it off 1/8 turn, it is prolly the problem. Mine has a nyloc nut that is tighter than fuck. I was going to break it loose one day, and said screw it.

FSM wrote:All vehicles are equipped with permanently lubricated
and sealed for life rear wheel bearings. There
is no periodic lubrication or maintenance recommended
for these units.
The only serviceable components of the hub and
bearing are the wheel mounting studs

RADARsx 2.0 · Post by **RADARsx 2.0** » Sat Oct 17, 2009 6:00 pm

Hmmm I guess I have to look into that...

fixitmattman · Post by **fixitmattman** » Sat Oct 17, 2009 7:28 pm

This isn't like older vehicles/alxes where you normally just had a pair of tapered roller bearings and the installation procedure you mentioned would then be correct. As mentioned the torque spec on the rear nut is 160ft*lbs (Fronts are 180). If you haven't torqued that nut and are doing it the old way then that's why you're loosing bearings. It needs that 160ft*'bs for the proper bearing/race pre-load.

RADARsx 2.0 · Post by **RADARsx 2.0** » Sat Oct 17, 2009 7:31 pm

hmmm..well then..that will be the problem. I was never taught this from the mechanic I was apprenticing off of...I can't believe it took her almost 5 months tho to throw another bearing tho..she was doing it within a week or two....so I will be off to get two new ones at about 40 bucks a pop for the umpteenth time and getting them in and torqued to 160...

mods can lock this or delete or whatever now

thanks everyone for your help.

fixitmattman · Post by **fixitmattman** » Sat Oct 17, 2009 10:56 pm

Only other way of a new bearing going out that fast is improper install/pressing. If you press it incorrectly (ie pressing on the inner race when you should be pressing on the outer for example, or vice versa) you can brinnel the races and a new bearing will grenade just as fast, however I suspect improper pre-load here.

RADARsx 2.0 · Post by **RADARsx 2.0** » Sat Oct 17, 2009 11:00 pm

yeah I am too..well if you learn to do it the wrong way...well then you will always do it that way till you are told differently