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Just a Rant on wheel bearings

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by ALS, Apr 7, 2016.

  1. ALS

    ALS Active Member

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    Replace both front hubs two weeks ago and today I find out the right rear is going bad.

    58,000 miles and I had to replace three out of four wheel bearings on this car. :mad:

    Service writer didn't look happy when I told him that I was ordering the part online since his parts department wouldn't price match. I made a point of telling him in front of customers that the $130 difference between them and other Toyota dealers who sell online made it well worth the week wait for the OEM part. $327 vs $197 shipped to my door.
     
    #1 ALS, Apr 7, 2016
  2. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk EGR Fanatic

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    Wonder what causes this. Complacence on the part of the dealership I guess. You're waking them up.

    In all our years with Honda I never even thought about wheel bearings. Something strange going on: quality control, bearing style, and more complacence?
     
    #2 Mendel Leisk, Apr 7, 2016
  3. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    seems to be another 2010 problem. bad run?
     
    #3 bisco, Apr 7, 2016
  4. Kenny94945

    Kenny94945 Active Member

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    What caused the failure?
    Bad run? Driving through deep water? Salt air? Lack of grease? Pressure washing the rims?
    Three bearings at the same time!

    Yes, parts on line can have savings.
    OP is fortunate dealer will install parts not purchase from them!
    I hope the dealer part price is list price and not marked up additionally, that would leave a "bad taste" to me if marked up over list.
     
    #4 Kenny94945, Apr 7, 2016
  5. ALS

    ALS Active Member

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    No they're selling at list. Which in this day and age I can't believe with the popularity of the internet they aren't trying really hard to get business through the parts department. A 10% profit through price matching is better than a zero sale.

    I have a supplier that I use for work and they love it when I show up for supplies. I'm their biggest customer and they will price match anyone online. I'm buying 2/3rds of my supplies for my business, 25-30% below what my competitors are paying. I'm the only one that asks for price matching.
     
    #5 ALS, Apr 7, 2016
  6. CR94

    CR94 Senior Member

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    If none of those, it could be impact damage or overloading. However, reports of wheel bearing failure are so common that I'd suspect more likely defective bearings, inappropiate grease, or inadequate design, whether due to incompetence or corner-cutting to save weight or cost.
     
    #6 CR94, Apr 8, 2016
  7. FinToy

    FinToy Active Member

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    I just talked about this with my dealer. They said cars that have less miles per year tend to fail with wheel bearings more often. It seems that the original sealing is not good enough and the (salty) water gets in there ruining the bearing. However the replacement bearing has improved sealing and it should last longer. Also the cars that are driven longer times usually have their bearings in better shape.

    Hope you get the point, English is not my native language.
     
    #7 FinToy, Apr 8, 2016
  8. Rebound

    Rebound Senior Member

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    What's the symptom? A lot of noise?
     
    #8 Rebound, Apr 8, 2016
  9. ALS

    ALS Active Member

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    Yes you get a tell tail whine above certain speeds. As the bearing gets worse the noise starts at lower speeds.

    Mine sounds like the engine is screaming at 4000 plus RPMs at 55 mph even when I'm coasting in neutral.

    It is so bad at 55 mph that the drivers side window resonates or buzzes.
     
    #9 ALS, Apr 8, 2016
  10. jdcollins5

    jdcollins5 Senior Member

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    I am going to guess the cold climate in the Pittsburgh area and salting roads is the primary factor.

    Knock on wood, but I just passed 112,000 miles and have not had issues with wheel bearings. I had mine up on jack stands at 100,000 miles and they check fine.
     
    #10 jdcollins5, Apr 8, 2016
  11. StarCaller

    StarCaller Senior Member

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    you got an idea from what year on toyota was using this bearings?
     
    #11 StarCaller, Apr 8, 2016
  12. Former Member 68813

    Former Member 68813 Senior Member

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    very atypical. my experience with bearings they fail over 100,000 miles.
    however, i have one toyota car which required 2 replacements (warranty) because mechanics damaged them while working on a tranny and another toyota car where 1 bearing was replaced (warranty) and it turned out to be noisy tire.
     
    #12 Former Member 68813, Apr 8, 2016
    Last edited: Apr 9, 2016
  13. SHH

    SHH Junior Member

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    Had local garage replace Left Rear wheel bearing yesterday on my 2010 II with 88k miles on it.
    Has been a problem for over a year - I initially thought noise was due to new tires. Not.
    Based on what I have been seeing in PC - it seems like I can expect further wheel repairs
    in the not too distant future. (Never buy a car in the first Model year. :-/ )
     
    #13 SHH, Apr 9, 2016
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