Are wheel bearings part of drive axle?

[dep7418]

I recently purchased a 2008 used car that falls under the Minnesota Used Vehicle Limited Warranty 30 days or 1000 Miles. Long story short not long after buying but within the above time frame I start to hear a hum from the front... It needs wheel bearings. Here is an excerpt from the warranty: I think they fall under #3

(d) For used motor vehicles with 36,000 miles or more, but less than 75,000 miles, the dealer's express warranty shall cover, at minimum, the following parts:

(2) with respect to the transmission, the automatic transmission case, internal parts, and the torque converter; or, the manual transmission case, and internal parts;
(3) with respect to the drive axle, the axle housings and internal parts, axle shafts, drive shafts and output shafts, and universal joints; but excluding the secondary drive axle on vehicles, other than passenger vans, mounted on a truck chassis;
(4) with respect to the brakes, the master cylinder, vacuum assist booster, wheel cylinders, hydraulic lines and fittings, and disc brake calipers;
(5) with respect to the steering, the steering gear housing and all internal parts, power steering pump, valve body, and piston;

I think I am going to get some resistance from them. What do you think? should Wheel bearings be covered under this?

Thanks for your time!

[maxwedge]

First of all what car is this??

[dep7418]

2008 Town Country 67xxx miles

[shorod]

I don't think the wheel bearings would be considered part of the drive axle. It might be considered part of the drivetrain/powertrain, but not part of the drive axle. If the hub were listed in item 3 you'd have a case to push them, but the way it's worded, I think you're on your own for this maintenance item.

That being said, it does not hurt to ask or to even push them a little until they provide you with a detailed explanation of what's covered and what's not, especially since the verbiage you pasted says, "at minimum."

-Rod

[Dave B.]

First, you might have a case for calling a front wheel bearing part of the 'axle housing', since it's really one of only two places that the drive axle actually 'passes through' something.

Second, I'm curious as to how you determined that the 'humming' was caused by a wheel bearing. Do you have a good independent mechanic you can go to for a second opinion? I'm asking this for two reasons: (1) 67k miles is very, very early for a front wheel bearing failure on a FWD Chrysler product [unless it was possibly damaged in an accident] and (2) in my experience, the sound a failing wheel bearing makes usually isn't a 'hum' - it's more like a high pitched whistle or maybe a 'scream'. If you're hearing a 'hum', I'd look at the tires first.

Hope you solve your problem without having to spend a bunch of cash!

Dave B.

[vgames33]

The term "Axle Housing" is referring to the rear axle assembly on a truck or similar. A FWD wheel bearing is a self-contained part.

It doesn't hurt to try.

[Dave B.]

Originally Posted by vgames33

The term "Axle Housing" is referring to the rear axle assembly on a truck or similar. A FWD wheel bearing is a self-contained part.

It doesn't hurt to try.

True, but the bearing is usually pressed into the spindle. To paraphrase someone from our past: 'Define "housing".'

Dave B.

[jd-autotech]

If there was a way to warranty it believe me the dealer would do it. Because it gets a car on the shop and the warranty company pays them.

[jd-autotech]

There is no advantage in telling you the warranty wont cover it. Because they get paid either way. By warranty company or you

[shorod]

I'm not sure how the aftermarket warranty companies work, or in this case it may come out of the car dealer's pocket, but if it's like the factory warranty, they will demand either a reduced labor rate or a reduced labor duration for a warranty repair. In that case, if the shop is pretty sure the owner will have the work done anyway, there could be benefit to saying its not covered under warranty, especially if there's a chance the warranty company will deny the claim.

-Rod