Front wheel bearing failure at 10000km... Ideas?

[offtap Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close offtap]

G`day,

Any ideas why a set of front wheel bearing would fail @ around 10000kms on a 96 model prado??

[AJ120 Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close AJ120]

Cheap nasty bearings, incorrect fitment, incorrect bearings, wrong grease, incorrect tension.................... How many reasons do you want?

Maybe a bit more info might help, where they new bearings fitted? what brand? who fitted them? have they been through water, particulary salt water?

Cheers Andrew

[Matty80 Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Matty80]

more descriptive title...

extent of failure? photos? history? info.

[glen_ep Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close glen_ep]

10,000km - is this a typo??

Even if I assume for a moment that you meant 100,000km, it's highly unlikely that a 1996 model would still be that low on Km's. Are you sure it's legitimate?

Generally speaking those bearings are meant to last the life of the vehicle, and I haven't heard of many failures. So unless there was a recall on that specific model, I would say failure before 200,000 is a sign of excessive mud or beach exposure. For evidence of mud, check in the chassis rails. For evidence of beach, check virtually anywhere for rust spots.

[AJ120 Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close AJ120]

I sort of assumed the bearings were replaced 10k ago and have failed again, but once again not enough info to give any sort of answer that might be useful. If they are a replacement why did the originals need replacing? Might be the same cause........... who knows.

Cheers Andrew

[offtap Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close offtap]

Sorry for the lack of info.And it is no typo 10,000 kms and the right front wheel has failed , I Replaced both front bearings after my front right started making a terrible noise after 270,000kms which I thought was fair enough. $1100 for the bearings and to be fitted by a brake and suspension place, CBC bearings. No beach or mud driving and very little off road at all since the replacement. I have been told that a broken CV joint could be the reason, anyone heard of this causing a bearing to fail so quickly?

[glen_ep Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close glen_ep]

Well I'm not a mechanic, but that sounds like bull. I've broken 3 CV joints and 1 CV shaft and never had bearing issues. The bearings are pressed in there with tonnes of force, so I'm certain a measly little CV wobble will not impact the bearings life to that degree.

Is the CV joint actually broken, or is someone just speculating without looking at it?

BTW - it's a good idea to update your location in your profile, so people can provide localised advise such as alternative fitters.

[mjrandom Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close mjrandom]

Got to agree with Glen. While the occasional (very occasional) bearing will fail early the vast majority don't. So the options are dodgy bearing from luck dragon incorporated or dodgy installation (that is some gorilla with a big hammer making them fit rather than fitting them properly) or you have hit something really really hard (given 4wd bearings are very robust units). Cannot see how a CV joint can possibly cause any damage. In my many years of motoring I have had to replace one modern wheel bearing and that was on a VN Commodore after it flew about 10m into a cotton field. Landed a bit heavily on one side and the wheel bearing started making noises thereafter (as did one wheel, the right front suspension, the gearbox, etc). Changed it and my jocks and no problems again.