Wheel Bearing Failure Causes

had a new bearing fail at 3000 miles on right steer. brand new! caught it when I did my service. pulled plug stuck finger in oil came out with silver flakes in oil. ended up being a counterfeit bearing that I bought from the local freightliner dealer. lesson learned!

 

90% of premature failure of a bearing is caused by the installation. I remember we had a large quantity of Rockwell rear axles wheel bearings fail because they were not set properly and the nuts backed off. Just shows you that even people that do it all day make mistakes.

 

that was the first thing I thought. but I don't make mistakes-- just ask me!

 

It happened to me, few months ago, driving bumpy potholes I-75 south in Michigan ; luckly I stopped at Petro in Defiance, OH and I noticed oil everywhere; took it to Volvo the hub bearing busted damaged the axle; they called "axle doctor", cutt the spinner and welded new one. 1600$ job.

 

What is with these counter fit parts? This is getting crazy. I see all those over haul kits on ebay and wonder who would want to buy them. Two posters with alleged counter fit wheel bearings.

 

Dunno exactly, but not always a counterfit issue either. I hear you can't go too far wrong if you ensure the bearing or substitute is North American or European made. Do some research and inquiries and see where it's made.

I've heard some say that even some brand name bearing manufacturers (Spicer for example) are outsource manufacturing, not all, but a few bearing types to Chinese plants to lower cost on select items. Don't know how much is true, but my experience with Chinese made goods - tools and items formed from steel - the material quality and production tolerances aren't always the best.

Upfront parts savings doesn't always translate to best long term costs savings.

 

That is very true. I replaced my front wheel bearings a few years back. Bought a set for my 379 from the local Mack dealer and a short time later it went out. Only reason I caught it before the wheel fell off was because it was dark and I saw the sparks and pulled over. Started hunting parts and stopped by the Mack dealer again for bearings and while inspecting the new one I noticed made in china. Slid them back across the counter and drove an hour and a half to peterbilt dealer for USA made and not a problem since.
I have no way to prove it was bearing failure or what happened with it. I can only suspect it was soft Chinese metal but since that's the only issue I've ever had with wheel bearings and knowing where they came from and how long Chinese junk lasts I do believe it was bearing failure

 

Sounds like they didn't know what they were doing when installing with a high failure rate

 

I just did the front wheel bearings in my truck. Both outside bearings were starting to pit. Inners were fine. One did have a leaky wheel seal and was low on oil but not out. They were about 2 years old. There was no movement at the wheel but you could feebly and hear it when rotating the wheel. These were timken bearing sets. My truck had an appetite for outer wheel bearings on the steer axle so I keep a close eye on them.

 

Make sure you adjust those bearings right way. Many mechanics get them too tight....