How Long Should a Wheel Bearing Last?

A_Nice_Englishman

My Ford Focus is about 6 years old and has only done 26,000 miles (mostly local trips around town). It has been regularly serviced by a Ford dealer and by the garage I used today.

I took it in for an oil and filter change and also asked them to look at the handbrake as it seemed a bit loose.

When I went too collect it, I was informed that they had had to replace the N/S/R wheel bearing and the bill was as follows:

Parts:
Oil filter £3.13
Oil £15.00
Wheel bearing £25.19

Labour:

Change oil and filter £14.00
Replace bearing £42.00

With VAT, it cost me £116, when I was expecting about £40

I asked the person who took my money if it was unusual for a wheel bearing to need replacing after 26,000 miles but he didn't comment. As the proprieter wasn't available and I needed my car back I paid up and left.

I know a garage shouldn't do work without authorisation and I will query this but can anyone comment on the technical aspects?

Would a wheel bearing normally wear out after 26,000 miles, assuming proper servicing?

Would it be obvious to the driver if a wheel bearing was faulty?

Does tightening up a handbrake involve going anywhere near the wheel bearings? The Haynes manual refers to an 'adjustment nut' which I assume is near the handbrake lever.

epninety

It's hard to say exactly how long a wheel bearing should last, as it depends on many things. I would be surprised at one lasting less than 50k though (unless there were special circumstances).
That said, it's quite likely that the garage would spot it while adjusting the handbrake, and that the handbrake would not adjust up with a loose bearing. Since you asked them to look at the handbrake, I suppose they might reasonably just fix it.

That said, both mechanics I use (rarely) always phone me before spending any more of my money than necessary.

vansboy

As wheel bearings aren't 'service items' these days, not needed to be removed, packed with fresh grease, as they might have been many years ago, they will either become loose, or noisey, when they want too!

Yours is more age related than mileage wear, not anything other than, it's happened, 'cos it has!!

The pricing of your bill seems pretty fair, too, you've not got a garage ripping you off, just them charging as they ought to. That in itself is good to know!

VB

Conor_3

Did you hear a rumbling or droning noise coming from the rear left which would possibly have disappeared when turning left?

That is the sign of a worn wheelbearing. Until it starts to do that, AND THERE IS PLAY IN IT WHICH CAN BE FELT BY ROCKING THE WHEEL whilst it is off the ground, there is no need to change it and on Fords, you can go 10,000's of miles with a grumbling bearing without the need to change. Mondeo front ones are noted for it. They'll groan like hell for ages but there'll be no play in them and they'll pass an MOT.

Epninety is wrong about the handbrake not adjusting up with a loose bearing - it makes no difference.

They only need to go near the hub nut possibly to remove the drum which they may have needed to do to free the handbrake mechanism.

You should have been informed before they did it. It would have been OK to drive with it unless it was absolutely at deaths door and believe me, it'd have made such an horrendous racket that you'd have been in no doubt about that.

tomstickland

I'm not sure on the exact models, but the older rear hubs often just needed the nut to be tightened a bit to sort rear bearing play.

dieselglider

Focus rear bearings do have a reputation for giving up the ghost, sooner rather than later.

Andybez38

Did the garage show you the wheel bearing they replaced? That would to me be some sort of proof they have changed it.

david29dpo

If is was the rear bearing that was replaced, i suspect if they needed to remove the brake-drum to fix the hand-break, the bearing was just re-greased, not replaced. Without seeing the old one, you will never know.

jimbo_the_jetset

Foci (Focus'/Focuses?) are renowned for crap wheel bearings. I've got a suspected one on my 03. One garage said it was a bearing, Ford Rapidfit couldn't fault it, still makes a noise and I'm sure it's going but it'll wait if they can't fault it. Best price I got for a change was £74 all in, so your price sounds good. When I spoke to Ford rapidfit about it they said the replacement Ford part had been upgraded since the factory fitted one so they know they were rubbish.

Worth a letter of complaint to Ford? You have done very little miles after all!!

A_Nice_Englishman

Thanks for alll your comments.

I think I will write to Ford, with a copy to the garage asking them to keep hold of the old bearing in case Ford want to see it. That way, if it does turn out to be faulty Ford may compensate me and if it was replaced unnecessarily (or not at all) I will have a case against the garage.

ADEY_3

The wheel bearing shouldnt have been disturbed the correct way to remove the rear drums is to undo the 4 bolts holding the stub axle on and remove the stub axle and drum as one unit.