Front Bearings Going - I have Questions!

[Darlo]

Hey all,

Just wondering how much I should be paying to get my front bearings replaced and how long it should take? Is it usually cheaper to bring my own part? Also, are there better bearings than others?

Also, is there anyone around me that would want to do it? Might as well keep the money in the Festiva Family .

If so, just PM me.

Thanks!

[1988festivazoom]

Use timken bearings. I immagine it would be cheaper to supply your own parts, make sure whoever does them keeps the spacers in the proper location when they re assembel the unit.

[Darlo]

Use timken bearings. I immagine it would be cheaper to supply your own parts, make sure whoever does them keeps the spacers in the proper location when they re assembel the unit.

What spacers? Sorry, I am dense when it comes to this stuff! :sign3:

[Darlo]

Oh I also wanted to ask about spark plugs (which I know how to do, lol). I would like to know if there is any difference in plug qualities and if the price difference is worth it. Most importantly, will somewhat bad plugs effect my gas mileage???

[1988festivazoom]

there are shims/ spacers behind the bearing races that will need to be put back in the same place bc they are speceficly made for that hub assembly. spark plugs will effect mileage if the gap is too big or too small, or the electrode is burnt/fouled, so yeah it will effect mileage bc it is less efficent at burning the fuel. as far as brands they are pretty much just pesornal prefrence, i would just get a step above oem, like a bosch platinum plug or even an autolite platnium plug. ngk's are ok too

[sandspringsfestiva]

Dealership

I had my entire front end replaced this Summer and chose to buy a real good quaility disk to put my new bearings in. Asked many repair shops to do the work and all turned me down. It seems that pressing in the new race requires a special set up press and most have seen disaster doing the work without it.

I took it to the local Ford dealership with all parts purchased from NAPA=QUALITY. It cost me around $1500 parts and labor. Brand new front end including struts, discs, and brakes for that price was well worth it. The car drives soooo much better! I slapped on a set of MICHELIN X-Ice tires when it got cold and it steers like an Indy car!

[Darlo]

I had my entire front end replaced this Summer and chose to buy a real good quaility disk to put my new bearings in. Asked many repair shops to do the work and all turned me down. It seems that pressing in the new race requires a special set up press and most have seen disaster doing the work without it.

I took it to the local Ford dealership with all parts purchased from NAPA=QUALITY. It cost me around $1500 parts and labor. Brand new front end including struts, discs, and brakes for that price was well worth it. The car drives soooo much better! I slapped on a set of MICHELIN X-Ice tires when it got cold and it steers like an Indy car!

I am assuming you are not talking about a festiva??? If so $1500!

[1988festivazoom]

Yeah 1500$ u got screwed bad! The parts are 350$ at the most and labor is only maybe 4 hours if u take your time. I've torn my frontend apart 3 times and it dosent take long. 1500$ for a car the kbb is worth 500$ dosent seem practical by any measure lol

[batstiva]

I'm a cheap SOB, so I pull my hubs, buy my own new bearings, and take them to my shop to be swapped. Usually costs me somewhere around 40 or 50 bucks, plus the cost of the bearings, per side.

Do yourself a favor, before you hand them the keys to the car, ask the guy who will be doing the work if he understands about the spacers. If not, move on. Trust me on this one. If he messes up on the spacers, you will need new bearings in short order. If he loses them, you will more than likely end up needing new hubs.

[JPT]

$1500? Even for a dealership, that's expensive. I hope they replaced EVERYTHING (down to the last nut) for that price. I also hope you got a lifetime warranty with that.

As for finding a shop to do front hubs, find a place with experience doing Kia Rios. They have the same setup.

[econoaddict]

Yeah 1500$ u got screwed bad! The parts are 350$ at the most and labor is only maybe 4 hours if u take your time. I've torn my frontend apart 3 times and it dosent take long. 1500$ for a car the kbb is worth 500$ dosent seem practical by any measure lol

He took it to the dealer, just looked it all up and at the dealer the parts to do the work he listed would be right at $830.00, labor guide calls for 9.2hrs for what he listed, plus alignment as well.

Apple to oranges, shopping for the cheapest parts and doing all the work in your driveway is a way different thing than having it done because you don't have the skill or equipment to do it yourself.

Doesn't seem practical??? uh how much are you gonna have in the new engine?? lol just razzin ya

[bravekozak]

I used to work in a greases, lubricants and chemical specialties lab. The cause of most bearing failures is poor quality and poor packing. I prefer a milled grease like Esso Unirex EP-2. A milled grease is very smooth and doesn't have any gritty particles of lithium soap base. I recommend lithium based greases rather that aluminum complex or other based grease. Just rub a bit of grease between your fingers to feel for any grit. If you see any separation of oil from the grease, pick another batch with a different serial number.
Secondly, when you pack your bearings with grease by yourself, always start from the large end and force it all the way through to the small end. make sure there are no voids. When they are installed with the right preload, they will last a very long time.

[sasquatch]

if you need help i can help...

if it was my car i would just get a used hub from the junkyard and slap it in... i have been running around for 20,000kms on junkyard hubs and for 50 bucks you cant go wrong

may even want to think about an aspire swap while your at it....

[leapin]

if you need help i can help...

if it was my car i would just get a used hub from the junkyard and slap it in... i have been running around for 20,000kms on junkyard hubs and for 50 bucks you cant go wrong

may even want to think about an aspire swap while your at it....

And how! I did the full Monty with my bearings and rotors.....now I wish I just aspired it up.

[sasquatch]

And how! I did the full Monty with my bearings and rotors.....now I wish I just aspired it up.

ya its cheaper if/when you need new pads or rotors or both... and its much eaiser to find rims... and its safer, better handling, and looks cool with the bigger brakes