Both rear wheel bearings (right and left sides) started making a howling noise at 37,000 miles, dealer wanted $700 a side to change, not covered by warranty, so I figured I would see if they got any worse and live with it but by 41,000 miles they were so loud I couldn't hear the radio. I bought a pair of new hub bearings at NAPA for $240 each and installed them myself because the rear wheel felt like it was going to fall off. Problem solved but why would a sealed bearing only last 40k miles? I examined one of the original bearings and it appears it was engineered that way; small diameter ball bearings and a plastic cage designed to last three years 36k miles.
Both rear wheel bearings (right and left sides) started making a howling noise at 37,000 miles, dealer wanted $700 a side to change, not covered by warranty, so I figured I would see if they got any worse and live with it but by 41,000 miles they were so loud I couldn't hear the radio. I bought a pair of new hub bearings at NAPA for $240 each and installed them myself because the rear wheel felt like it was going to fall off. Problem solved but why would a sealed bearing only last 40k miles? I examined one of the original bearings and it appears it was engineered that way; small diameter ball bearings and a plastic cage designed to last three years 36k miles.
- e.alleg, Bolivar, NY, US