2001 both Wheel bearings replaced - common?

newconcepts · 03-14-2006, 04:33 PM

Took my 2001 GP in for an oil change then had the repair shop call me
listing more problems; brakes, rotors, tie rod and both wheel bearing hubs
needed to be replaced. Now my warranty company says the wheel bearings
MORE THAN LIKELY (90%) should not have needed to have been replaced
on a car with 60,000 miles. Of course they don't want reimburse me for repairs as it was not called in before hand.

Is this that uncommon a problem? I have been going to this shop for quite some time and I think they are very trustworthy.

GTP Dad · 03-14-2006, 04:44 PM

Can happen at any time. Had one go on a Grand Am at 40K miles once. The warranty company is wrong in their assessment but since they are expensive they don't want to pay for the repair. Put up a fight!!!

BNaylor · 03-14-2006, 05:15 PM

I can see brakes and rotors depending on the mileage but what problem(s) are you having with the tie rod ends and hubs. What are the symptoms? What reason was stated by the shop?

I would question wheel bearings at 60K miles but they have been known to fail prematurely.

lysoll · 03-14-2006, 06:57 PM

I had the front passenger one replaced at about 50,000. I bought new tires and they said it was wore. The warranty compnay never said anything twice about replacing it.

wlkjr · 03-14-2006, 07:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lysoll

I had the front passenger one replaced at about 50,000. I bought new tires and they said it was wore. The warranty compnay never said anything twice about replacing it.

I'm curious as to how much they charged for the wheel bearings as I just replaced both of mine last week for the first time at 304,000 miles.
I saw a TV report a couple of weeks ago on Just Brakes and the manager was ripping folks off left and right on un-needed brake jobs. That's how most of these people stay in business and make big bucks too by selling un-needed parts and repairs.
I only changed my bearings because it had started to roar like crazy. The dealer had told me two years ago that I needed new ones and wanted around $700 or more to do them.

maxwedge · 03-14-2006, 07:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by newconcepts

Took my 2001 GP in for an oil change then had the repair shop call me
listing more problems; brakes, rotors, tie rod and both wheel bearing hubs
needed to be replaced. Now my warranty company says the wheel bearings
MORE THAN LIKELY (90%) should not have needed to have been replaced
on a car with 60,000 miles. Of course they don't want reimburse me for repairs as it was not called in before hand.

Is this that uncommon a problem? I have been going to this shop for quite some time and I think they are very trustworthy.

Did the shop know you had extended warranty, who ok'd the work, this all could have been avoided.

BNaylor · 03-14-2006, 07:45 PM

The other trap I've seen with the dealers and especially shops that do alignment is all the bad steering or suspension components supposedly causing the alignment not to come into spec. Specifically camber which does cause some weird tire wear. They wind up replacing the ball joints, tie rod ends(?) and control arm bushings only to find out you have the same problem. $$$$$. When the simple remedy was to elongate one the strut holes and install an eccentric bolt which normally pulls it back into spec and you are good to go. Makes you wonder. When it comes to big bucks I make them show me.

wlkjr · 03-14-2006, 10:10 PM

Other than changing fluids, if it ain't broke---I don't fix it. It has to be making a noise or doing something out of the ordinary for me to seek remedy.

hzy08p · 03-15-2006, 08:50 PM

I have an 01' Grand Prix too. I just took mine in to get new tires, and they also said I needed new wheel hubs and bearings. They're full of crap. You would know if you had bad hubs/bearings....you'd hear it when you drive...LOUD! That's an easy and common way for them to make an extra $400.

lysoll · 03-16-2006, 01:23 PM

I had went to sears and bought the new tires. They were really pushing for the new wheel bearing. So I took it to the dealer and they took care of it. Mine must have been an actual problem if they covered it under warranty. I think the bill would have been close to $550.

BNaylor · 03-16-2006, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lysoll

I had went to sears and bought the new tires. They were really pushing for the new wheel bearing. So I took it to the dealer and they took care of it. Mine must have been an actual problem if they covered it under warranty. I think the bill would have been close to $550.

The mechanics at Sears must have a crystal ball. Or did you get an alignment where the wheel bearings were found suspect or defective? And if you still have a warranty its good idea to let GM and the dealer worry about it.

A defective hub/bearing may give other problems not just mechanical. It may not be the bearing part (mechanical) and be just a flaky wheel sensor (electrical) which is part of the hub. It will give off an ABS or TRAC OFF fault light. I've seen the hub changed just because a wheel sensor was out of spec and causing just a low tire pressure light or causing the engine to cutoff when turning. There are a lot of variables and everyone's situation will probably be unique.

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