In 200 thousand miles the refrigerator has lost two rear wheel bearings. One on each side, and the first one was what I would consider premature. 60 thousand miles.

Both times I was running a funny tire on that corner. Slightly out of round the first time, and unevenly worn both times. Am I onto something?

/// I've had axle failure on boat trailors from a bad wheel. The vibration eventually fatigues the metal to failure.

The spline interface between the axle and differential should prevent the pounding from being transferred to the center gears. The bearing, however, must take that vibration. The more wear present the more space between the races and the rollers and the larger the possible movement.

If there is wear in the bearing then the out of balance or out of round tire has some space to move the bearing in and out.

Sealed bearings are available for Volvo. This bearing eliminates the need for both rear seals.

Larry,

Where do you get the selaed bearings?

/// I bought mine at the "World Parts" dealer here. It is a local shop. It's after twelve today so they are closed. If you can't find it email me off the board and I will phone them and get the brand and part number. It was about $58 but it replaces two seals and the grease problem. There were two o-rings inset around the outside of the bearing. It had to be tapped in gently with a large hammer. I remind every one that the sealed bearing was standard in 73.

Ya gotta remember to repack them whenever you do the fronts. In my case, thats every time they get so loud I can't stand it.

interesting....it would think that you would feel that bad o'tire while driving..and you kept driving?? gloveboy, come on!! :)

Anyhow...I guess I'm lucky. Whilst I've had to yank (off) axles to fix the darn leaking seals, Ive never actually had a bearing fail. Makes me wonder if the new bearing was beatin' on/off....or somebody screwed up pressing the retaining ring on the axle.

Yes, I knew the tire was bad. Economics/false economies did not allow prompt replacement.

Both bearings were factory origional. Both replacements done by the only mechanic I trust. 140K on the left one. So far, so good.

No meat was used in the lubrication of the new bearings.

Just kiddin' wid ya...but I done did mean that someone at the rear end factory may have messed the bearing as well.

So wot's ya point? I gotta go to the factory and kick a@3?

I've had 4 go in ~250k. 3 left rear, 1 right. The first left was done by the PO, 2nd by me at a shop that may or may not have known what they were doing, and the third just recently. The right I did myself about a year ago. I'm afraid the axle on the left might be bent, causing the failures. I do know that the last two (1R + 1L) occurred after the car had been subjected to bad roads and severe cold (Chicago).

As to the wheels, both were same type and age. But maybe the slightly bent Turbo wheels had something to do with it also...

Ed, I replaced both wheel bearings on my 86 at about 200K. I can attest to the noise, once you hear it you will recognize it immediately next time around. It took me a while to figure it out, sounded like rear caliper noise, would come and go, but finally came to stay at which time it was easy to tell what it was.

A tire out of balance probably didn't help, but 200,000 miles isn't bad either. Thats a lot of round and round for any part.

An out of round or out of balance tire or wheel creates cyclic loading unlike a rough road. The cyclic loading can create spalling (metal fatigues to the point where large particles flake away) on the bearing surface from excessive contact loading, once it starts it's likely to progress to the point of a total bearing failure and not much chance to analyze the cause.

Tom

How did you know it was going out? What are the symptoms?

thanks, JOHN

Serious intermittant noise. I do mean serious. Like "Stop me now, I'm coming apart" noise. Sets your hair on end, if you have any, and makes your back teeth grind. Then it goes away. For a while. But it always comes back!

Hello Ed,

I just had the rear bearings done in my car, when I had the differential

replaced. The people that did the work reported that one of the bearings

had the seal installed backwards which was leaking on my E-brake. Barring

anything like this happening when your bearings were installed. I would

say that the tire can cause this type of failure. Especially if you use

the car on rough roads. And who doesnt' use their car on rough roads.

How is the diff? If the bearings are worn in that I guess its possible to

have this play affect the axle also.

Dave 82 242ti

How is the diff? Man, that is the stuff nightmares are made of.

Hi Ed,

The diff is fantastic. I was tearing up the road in last weeks snow.

Expensive, but definitely one of the best things I ever improved a car with. If I knew it was that good I would have done it sooner. When you

do the bearing this time, I recommend using some of the Redline grease.

Sport springs, the diff, and using snow tires for the winter. These

are the things that a lot of folks won't go this far modifying their car

but they are some of the things that really made me happier and the

car is more enjoyable to me.

Dave 82 242ti

interesting