2011 rear wheel bearings cost labor and parts
Should I do both @130k

Turned out bearings need replacing in the differential
Will get it back today
Quoted $1400

Hopefully reduced performance will not show up as a message again
Trans shifts smoother

This is an educational post. Didn’t realize that rear wheel bearing replacement is not uncommon. I assumed the opposite. I have never needed to replace a rear wheel bearing on any of my cars. Done plenty of fronts, however. Even my 90 240 with over 300k didn’t require them. Glad too as that job looked like a bear on that car. Guess I’ve been lucky..:)
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Will I buy another Volvo??? We'll see....

My driver side rear bearing started droning, I turned the radio up.
Drove like that for thousands of miles, eventually swapped it out.
The carrier housing was frozen into the knuckle, no amount of smacking loosened it up, I removed the eBrake cable and inserted a 1/2 inch ext rod through the hole and drove the carrier off from behind with a 3 lb hammer.

How many miles?

Will get back when mechanic takes for test ride when rain stops.
Yes noise sounds like there are snow tires on the rear?
Mechanic mentions it might be worse $1400 to rebuild gears in rear end!
Will check in later
Thx for imput all

130k sounds a little early. I replaced mine at around 200k because I was “so sure” that was the source of my rear end noise. Turned out to be a bad tire. So now I have a pair of well-used-but-OK-use-some-more bearings sitting on the shelf.

If the mechanic has a lift (or even not) it would be simple and more accurate to jack the car up and listen to the bearing with a stethoscope or steel bar. - Dave

I have 185K on my car, and as far as I know they are original. If I drove more, it is not a daily driver, I would get some good bearings (not Chinese knock offs). When bearings fail and you hear sounds like you are running on snow tires between 30-50 mph, it is obvious that they need replacing.

Another BB'er replaced his front bearings with FAG and noted a 3mpg increase around town! So yes, the wheel bearings do wear out and should be replaced at some time. That time is at your discretion. And, yes, do both sides at the same time.
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Keeping it running is better than buying new

My Volvo mechanic is going to road test again when the road is dry. Yes Klaus it sounds like snow tires are on the rear.
He hopes that is the problem because it might be $1400 to rebuild something in the rear end.