Think wheel bearings are starting to fail

[TheDoug]

99.9 percent sure I am hearing the beginnings of a front or both wheel bearings going out. My expedition is still under warranty but I am not sure I want to screw with going to dealership. Thinking of just doing it myself for less downtime since it is a really easy thing to swap out. Any idea on where to get best price?

Another question, I know once they start to go you should don't sooner than later but I have an 3 hour road trip next weekend... should I get it done before or wait til they get bad?

Thanks in advance

 

[Trainmaster]

Three or six hours shouldn't be a problem unless they are truly howling, but who can tell? Tasca Ford has pretty good mail order prices, but call them first to see that the bearings are available and how long it will take to get them.

 

[duneslider]

I too would recommend getting the bearings from a dealer. Maybe even the local dealer has them in stock. Not sure if any aftermarket places make one that would be better.

 

[ManUpOrShutUp]

Ford's wheel bearings / wheel hub assemblies are crap imho. Failure after failure on various vehicles. I went with an SKF hub assembly from Amazon (sold/shipped by) when I did mine. It's an easy job on the 3rd gens and I imagine it's very similar on the 4th gens. I wouldn't pay a dealer to do it.

 

[TheDoug]

Having trouble finding that, you have part number by chance?

 

[duneslider]

Ford's wheel bearings / wheel hub assemblies are crap imho. Failure after failure on various vehicles. I went with an SKF hub assembly from Amazon (sold/shipped by) when I did mine. It's an easy job on the 3rd gens and I imagine it's very similar on the 4th gens. I wouldn't pay a dealer to do it.

SKF makes great bearings, I wouldn't hesitate to use theirs.

 

[29twonine]

Our front left wheel bearing had been going out since this summer. At first I thought it was just tire noise, but it didn't go away when we swapped the snow tires on. Got it into the dealer after Christmas and they're replacing the bearing Tuesday.

Over Christmas we did a 600mile roadtrip, I was kind of nervous, but we made it. The noise at 80mph is barely noticeable, it was the noisiest around 40mph.

We have an extended warranty and 42k miles, but advisor said it will be covered under powertrain warranty.

I was tempted to just swap it out myself, but since it will still be covered and save me a few hundred bucks I guess we'll just waste yet another day going back and forth to the dealer.

good luck!

 

[ManUpOrShutUp]

Having trouble finding that, you have part number by chance?

I don't see a part # for SKF for 2018. Moog's part # is 515181. Moog is hit or miss as they source parts from multiple manufacturers, including their own factories. Ideally, I would aim to get a Moog part in person so I could determine who made it (they are stamped) and where it came from. All of this said, I just realized you are still under warranty. While I wouldn't pay a dealer to do the job and I hate going to dealers at all, if you are looking at a free repair vs a $300 repair (to do yourself) ...

 

[TheDoug]

I don't see a part # for SKF for 2018. Moog's part # is 515181. Moog is hit or miss as they source parts from multiple manufacturers, including their own factories. Ideally, I would aim to get a Moog part in person so I could determine who made it (they are stamped) and where it came from. All of this said, I just realized you are still under warranty. While I wouldn't pay a dealer to do the job and I hate going to dealers at all, if you are looking at a free repair vs a $300 repair (to do yourself) ...

Thanks I thought I was just going crazy not being able to find the SKF part...

If my bearing lasts past my road trip I think I will just take it to the dealer unless there is a part out there that is head and shoulders above the Motorcraft replacement.

 

[dwmarks]

My drivers front started last summer and was singing pretty good by December. Was gonna do myself but the older I get, the less time I have for bullsh!t. Dealer did the job in about 2hrs for $650 while I drank coffee and ordered a 2022 Expy. Mine is a 2018 limited and it’s been very good to me. 65k miles by the way.

 

[BlackBetty]

Our front left wheel bearing had been going out since this summer. At first I thought it was just tire noise, but it didn't go away when we swapped the snow tires on. Got it into the dealer after Christmas and they're replacing the bearing Tuesday.

Over Christmas we did a 600mile roadtrip, I was kind of nervous, but we made it. The noise at 80mph is barely noticeable, it was the noisiest around 40mph.

We have an extended warranty and 42k miles, but advisor said it will be covered under powertrain warranty.

I was tempted to just swap it out myself, but since it will still be covered and save me a few hundred bucks I guess we'll just waste yet another day going back and forth to the dealer.

good luck!

I have an ‘04 Eddie Bauer and ‘16 ELT. Both trucks had the front left bearing fail. The Eddie Bauer was driven on for a LONG time with the noise (thought it was the tire) without issue. So your trip should be fine. I’d get it done as soon as you can after the trip. I happened to be swapping out the OEM wheels from the ‘16 to the ‘04 (got the F-150 20in OEM’s for the ‘16) when I noticed the front wheel play/ wobble after getting it off the ground. Picked up the part, and replaced it before mounting the new take-off’s.

 

[TheDoug]

Thanks so much for all your replies!

 

[DJAucutt]

The front bearings on my '18 Max (50k) started moaning, so I ordered 2 bearings, waited a week, then talked to the service rep. They replaced both bearings with only one day down time. Shout out to Hollingsworth Ford in Baton Rouge for the quick turnaround.

 

[2020ExpyPlatinum]

99.9 percent sure I am hearing the beginnings of a front or both wheel bearings going out. My expedition is still under warranty but I am not sure I want to screw with going to dealership. Thinking of just doing it myself for less downtime since it is a really easy thing to swap out. Any idea on where to get best price?

Another question, I know once they start to go you should don't sooner than later but I have an 3 hour road trip next weekend... should I get it done before or wait til they get bad?

Thanks in advance

Why would you replace it yourself when it is under warranty?
FYI I will tell you one thing that will cause wheel bearings to fail prematurely which is over torquing the wheel lug nuts.

I've seen a car go through 4 sets of wheel bearings with 3 years, when I got the vehicle and serviced it prior to removing the wheel I checked what the torque was on the lug nuts. All the lug nuts were torqued to over 200 ft. Lbs.

If they get snugged evenly and torqued evenly using a torque wrench NOT a torque stick like most technicians use, you will not have issues.

 

[TheDoug]

Why would you replace it yourself when it is under warranty?
FYI I will tell you one thing that will cause wheel bearings to fail prematurely which is over torquing the wheel lug nuts.

I've seen a car go through 4 sets of wheel bearings with 3 years, when I got the vehicle and serviced it prior to removing the wheel I checked what the torque was on the lug nuts. All the lug nuts were torqued to over 200 ft. Lbs.

If they get snugged evenly and torqued evenly using a torque wrench NOT a torque stick like most technicians use, you will not have issues.

I don't like waiting at the dealership...

Funny you mention over tightening lugs... just rotated the tires after discount put on new ones and I almost didn't get 4 of the lugs off multiple wheels because of how overtightened they were. And that was with an impact gun.

After rotating the noise was still there but not sure it's bad enough for the dealer not to give me the typical BS about not being able to reproduce the problem. Wait for them to get a little noisier.

 

[2020ExpyPlatinum]

I don't like waiting at the dealership...

Funny you mention over tightening lugs... just rotated the tires after discount put on new ones and I almost didn't get 4 of the lugs off multiple wheels because of how overtightened they were. And that was with an impact gun.

After rotating the noise was still there but not sure it's bad enough for the dealer not to give me the typical BS about not being able to reproduce the problem. Wait for them to get a little noisier.

If it is a wheel bearing on an open road with no traffic or a parking lot go the speed where the noise is noticeable and you can turn the wheel hard enough to transfer the weight to the failing wheel bearing and it should get louder. You done need to turn the wheel hard, but enough to get the body to transfer weight to the side the bearing is failing on.

It was a test I always performed when a customer stated they heard a whinning noise, but it wasn't present all the time.

If I didn't make sense let me know and I can post a Short video of what I am talking about

 

[ManUpOrShutUp]

Mine is a 2018 limited and it’s been very good to me. 65k miles by the way.

With only 65k on the clock, I sure as heck hope it's been very good to you.

 

[TheDoug]

If it is a wheel bearing on an open road with no traffic or a parking lot go the speed where the noise is noticeable and you can turn the wheel hard enough to transfer the weight to the failing wheel bearing and it should get louder. You done need to turn the wheel hard, but enough to get the body to transfer weight to the side the bearing is failing on.

It was a test I always performed when a customer stated they heard a whinning noise, but it wasn't present all the time.

If I didn't make sense let me know and I can post a Short video of what I am talking about

Thanks for the info, when I turn right while leaving my downhill driveway I can sometimes hear what sounds like a tire rubbing. (I have stock tire size)

 

[29twonine]

Just got our front left wheel bearing (finally) replaced yesterday. Powertrain warranty covered it and now no more noise, so nice.

Good luck. (42k miles)

 

[Fastcar]

I'm confused. Admittedly I'm old school. Were it me and I had a wheel bearing making noise I'd have to hear it once and it would be changed out. I equate it to a loose wheel. I wouldn't run it any further than I had to due to the possibility of a catastrophic failure. I have my family in this thing, I don't gamble with their well being. Just my .02