Wheel bearing life...

[Black-Z71]

I am going to be doing a brake job soon. What is the life of the front wheel bearings? I thought I might replace them while I was at it, if there wasn't much life left on em. Is there anything else that needs to be done there as far as maintenance goes? My truck has 45,000 on the clock...it that helps.

[Bish]

I am going to be doing a brake job soon.  What is the life of the front wheel bearings?  I thought I might replace them while I was at it, if there wasn't much life left on em.  Is there anything else that needs to be done there as far as maintenance goes?  My truck has 45,000 on the clock...it that helps.

 

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Don't know life expectancy but I've got 142K on mine and they are still quiet. I would imagine it depends on many things like driving conditions, road conditions, amount of water seen, amount of salt, etc. I'm in the midwest rust belt and mine are holding up well.

[tfpary]

I have experience with many high mileage vehicles, and the only one I have EVER seen a wheel bearing failure is a 1983 Renualt Alliance - the front wheel bearing failed at 180,000 miles. The balls literally fell out. My 82 C-10 has 200,000 plus with the original bearings, and my 84 Chrysler new yorker (not worth upper case letters) has 264,000 on the original bearings. I wouldn't worry about the bearings in your truck. Change the seals though! Grease makes the bearings happy.

tad

[Black-Z71]

84 Chrysler new yorker (not worth upper case letters)

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Good stuff guys...thanks.

[highup1500hd]

When I had my 2000, I had to replace both wheel bearings before 30,000 miles. The drivers side went out first at around 24 and then the passenger side went out at 29 and change. Wasn't a fun experience! When the driver's side went I thought my wheel was going to fall off. Passenger side wasn't as bad but could still tell it was going out. They are pricey, so I would wait till you need to do it. They are not that hard to do, just expensive.