Rear Wheel Bearing

[VTAudiA4]

How can you tell that you need to relace your wheel bearings?
The only way I know is when you hear excessive road noise.
I think I need to replace the back two but I dont want to 2n guess myself because it cost 400 for 2 wheel bearings + shop labor. Any help is appreciated.

[oldblu]

Weave on the road. If you make a hard left and hear humming, it's your passenger bearing. Vice versa.

[VTAudiA4]

I will give that a try tomorrow. Thanks

[LowSantorin]

400 for bearings? find a new shop

[LowSantorin]

i paid $40 for oem bearing, i think retail at my shop was like 85ish and the labor is easy by yourself, (rent or buy allen socket) and then having it pressed in should only cost you about 20-40

[Anthony]

Just had the right rear one replaced today on my car. Retail on the kit was $75, and the labor was billed at 1.5 hours.

[Stampy]

Bearing =$50
Pep Boys pressing it for you = $30
Time for you to do job = roughly 2 hours depending on how much of a pain it wants to be.

Its honestly an easy job man. I think Audiworld has a great write up on it. Hardest thing is finding that I think 17mm socketed Allen. I found a 3 pack of generic ones at Murrey's for $4.95. It had a 17mm, 15mm, and 12mm, which have all since been used and actually are holding up great.

[Naudilos]

Yeah, 400 + labor sounds rediculous for rear wheel bearings. Just do exactly as Stampy said. Should come out to no more than 170 for both rear wheel bearings. I also followed that audiworld write up when I did my first one, it's very detailed.

[manufan]

You could also rent a hub-tamer to do it. Which relieves you of needing to take the spindle off completely. Therefore, no need to screw with the ABS wheel sensors and you won't need an alignment. If you do decide to do DIY, if the sensors don't come out easily, lift up the back seat, unplug them from the harness, thread the wires through the hole in the floor and leave them in the spindle housing when you take it for the press work.

[VTAudiA4]

No I meant that 400 dollars included the bearings and the shop labor for the right rear and left rear.

[Seerlah]

It really isn't that much to do. I got mine from MIke Hood he had laying around for cheap. I can't recall how much, but maybe $40 or so. And had it changed for like $40. But my mechanic goes by his own rates and doesn't try and rape people. The job took like 30-40 min and should not cost as much as most shops charge. You figure both bearings are going to be like $100. Labor is $300??? Find a cheaper shop x3. Ask or search in the regional forum for cheap shops that are local to you.

And I knew mine was bad because I could hear it. Wa wa wa wa wa and the tread on my tires would wear on the inside for that one wheel.

[tdn]

I forget how much I paid for the bearing, maybe $60, did the labor myself.. paid $30 to press it in. Unfortunately, none of the auto parts stores near me have a press, so I had to go through a couple mechs because they tried ripping me off, no surprise. I believe most shops near me charge $250-350 for the job including the bearing.

[tdn]

No I meant that 400 dollars included the bearings and the shop labor for the right rear and left rear.

$400 for BOTH right and left rear wheels? bearings included?

around me, $200 each side is a pretty good deal.

[VTAudiA4]

Yes, 200 per side with the bearing included.

[tdn]

If they do it right so you don't need an alignment, good deal in my opinion... but personally, I'd just do the work myself.

[AudiBoy808]

The shop I go to quoted me that much too but mine is including a rotor swap and new pads. So I'm sure just to change the bearings would be less.

[whoace]

Jack up the corner you think is bad and spin the wheel. You should hear a dragging sound if the bearing is bad.

Just mark the camber washers and your alignment shouldn't go out.

All the tools you need:

* 19mm wrench X 2 (to remove upright bolts)
* 17mm wrench X 2 (to remove stab link)
* 14mm allen (collar bolt)
* 8mm allen (caliper carrier)
* 5mm allen (for the ABS sensor. These things are seized in as well. I found it easier to remove the back seat and unplug the harness and remove the grommets)
* 10mm socket (backing plate)
* 13mm socket (caliper bolts)
* 15mm thin wrench (to hold the slider on the caliper)
* Torque wrench
* 1/2" drive breaker bar (the longer the better)
* Hydraulic press or a hub tamer (remove/install bearing)
* A little bit of emery cloth to clean the rust
* Bungee cords to hold the caliper and drive axle

The 17mm allen is not needed. The rear collar bolt uses a 14mm. Front uses 17mm.

[tdn]

The shop I go to quoted me that much too but mine is including a rotor swap and new pads. So I'm sure just to change the bearings would be less.

Probably depends on where someone lives. Around me, most auto parts stores don't have presses, actually none I know of have presses that they let customers use. And when my first wheel bearing went bad, I got quotes in the 250-350 range, I even know someone who got ripped off to the tune of $430 for ONE wheel bearing job without an alignment.

To the OP, if you want to find the best deal in your area, the obvious thing to do is call all the reputable local shops for quotes.

[Stampy]

The 17mm allen is not needed. The rear collar bolt uses a 14mm. Front uses 17mm.

Yeah, what he said.

[sam.hollis]

I just got one of my rears done bought the bearing on PureMS and the labour was $375.00 it took the guy the whole day he fought with a control arm bolt for over any hour, that sucked.

[VTAudiA4]

Thanks whoace for all the help. I will jack up the car tomorrow after work and make sure that both rear beaings have gone. As for doing the work myself I'd raher have someone do it for me just because my mechanic skills are intermediate. I've done head gaskets and transmissions but I have never done this before and I would not want to screw it up because I rely on my car heavily. Once again thanks for all the info.

[VTAudiA4]

Well I got them repalced and it was 393. 220 for the labor and the rest was tax and labor.