CT03911

Who has had wheel bearings replaced? Did you do it because you confirmed a need or was it precautionary?

I used the search function looking for SPECIFIC evidence of bearing wear or evidence of a need to replace. After a long time paging down through post after post to find one that might have a "bearing" word in it, I usually just saw someone say what they had done or heard with no confirmed failures.

If you replaced the bearings on your car, can you comment on the condition of the replaced part and perhaps the mileage street/track.

Thanks.

eab3@bellsouth.net

What a rare item to replace. Unless you flush water through it (like the life of a boat trailer wheel) it ought to last over 100K miles. All out race cars probably get a season or so on their's. Why would you think you need to consider a replacement? The traditional tell tale is a roaring noise kind of in the background, especially when you turn one durection or the other.

Carnerd

+1. As I understand our wheel bearing should last a long time. When I had my Turbo they lasted 20k miles but my mechanic told me that wasnt unusual due to the four wheel drive and ~500 bhp.

The noise is also fairly obviously when they start to go out.

CT03911

Read some posts that they were wear items and I was actually questioning that so wanted feed back. Would love to hear from someone who has actually replaced the bearings and why, preventative or due to failure, what did they look like when they came out, ie did they need to if they pulled them preventatively. I understand bad ones will make noise. thanks guys.
Dennis

996FLT6

Wheel bearings when worn down don't squeak they groan(drumming noise). Wait til u get the rear upper strut mount squeak- that drive u insane. Mike

mooty

my wheel bearings only last 1.5 track seasons, 6-7k track miles.
you'll know when you turn left, and hear groaning noise from front right and vice versa.

CT03911

Not hearing from anyone who did these preventatively and discovered wear at that point. Sounds like a part everyone has there own opinion about and I suspect it has a lot to do with how you drive, frequency, what tracks, perhaps even cooldown for all I know.
Not sure I will do the preventive replacement I had been planning on anymore.

PK996C2

Rodney,

Talk to Dan. He just replaced my front left when it started groaning. Before they do, there's no need for any preventative steps. Just wait until it/they go.

Patrick

KOAN

When they go, you'll hear the groan, but I have never heard of a catastrophic failure, so there is no need to do preventative maintenance. You'll need it sooner if you have more neg. camber. On my previous track car, I needed them all around eventually(1996 993), but I had about 10k track miles before that happened.

dnitake

Here's an old pic of my front wheel bearing taken apart.
Made quite the racket. Problem is w/ tracking, these things can get pretty hot
from the heavy and sustained braking. Sealed bearings are not really sealed. But the failures are usually not catastrophic.
You'll hear it first. I have not had to replace one since though over the past
couple of years.

va122

Makes a groanning/grinding sound. Similar to a tire just getting corded, (most do not hear this either) Just got mine looked at and surprisingly they're fine. (i've replaced every moving part in my car with cup pieces so far.)

Your car is street, don't worry about it.

CT03911

Thanks Patrick, Chuck and Dan. That was the info I needed. I am going to wait until they go. Much appreciated all.
Dennis

PK996C2

Meant to say Dennis and not Rodney. Getting my CT based silver GT3's confused. Hope to see you at LRP and WGI again this year.

CT03911

See you there Patrick.

arenared

Pretty common on Boxsters, especially those that are tracked. Mine didn't look anything like dnitake's. I think the prevailing wisdom is wait until they fail.