Wheel bearing needs replacing - how to avoid?

If that's the worst thing that happens with your car...

Anyway. Is that the original 12V battery? Test it:

http://priuschat.com/forums/newbie-forum/73400-weird-stuff-happening-mpgs-dropping-test-battery.html

If it fails the test replacing it may improve MPGs.

 

Are you hearing from the front or rear? The rear bearings are original right?

 

Postulating a hypothesis is easy but the hard part is to follow-up with facts and data. What we need need is a volunteer who will take the failed bearings, disassemble them and look for wear patterns that might reveal their individual failure mechanism(s) and with a collection, common patterns.

Personal practices could be a factor. More than just water,
my personal hypothesis is car wash soap may be a factor, I have no data, just reasoning soap is made to dissolve grease.
I have watched others, usually teen males spend there time washing their cars clean enough to eat off them .
I try to avoid (within reason of course) spraying the inner wheel hub area with soapy water and have only replaced one wheel bearing in 20+ years of driving which has has been many, including dusty roads , with high mileage vehicles.

 

Maybe soneone else can answer but the G2 Prius uses angular ball bearings in the front hub (reduce friction) and switched the carrier to aluminum (save weight). If I designed it, it would have tapered rollers. Do other FWD cars use tapered rollers? The older rear wheel drive cars always used them in front. I wouldn't be surprised if G3 went back to tapered rollers. If Toyota's field reporting and repair parts frequency analysis system works they did.

 

I see an opportunity for a great mod here - replacement ceramic bearings. They're all the rage in high end road racing bicycles because of their reduced friction but they also have a much higher level of durability. They're expensive of course, but I'm actually a little surprised Toyota didn't use them stock. Given the volumes I doubt it would have made much difference in the price of a car.

- D

 

2008 Prius 105,000 miles. Was noticing noise driving especially on highway. Seemed also to be a friction sound about once per wheel rotation. Also noticed poor mileage under 30 MPG. Had both front wheel bearings replaced for $700. Mileage now over 50 MPG, much quieter ride. Mechanic said he had to replace rear wheel bearings on his 2010 Prius. Seems to be a common issue. Loving the improved mileage and lighter touch needed on the accelerator!