Are bearings a problem in 2001 Escort

[loulahkitty]

I have been told that bearings go out frequently in Escorts by one guy, and another says they dont go for 100K. Does anyone have an idea?

[mightymoose_22]

I have a 94 Escort... over 200K... never replaced a bearing. I may be due though :P

[taillight]

Escorts don't seem to have any special bearing problems.

[Davescort97]

Never had a bearing go out on 97. Escorts pick up a lot of road noise through the tires and it sounds like a rough bearing. 160k and no problems.

[denisond3]

Could you tell us which bearings you were told are likely to wear out on Escorts? Even at 100,000 miles? My 92 Escort had 192,000 miles on it when it became necessary to rebuild the transmission (due to my in-laws never checking the fluid level). The engine was only smoking blue on startup, but I rebuilt it too. I put in new piston rings and crankshaft seals in the motor, but its bearings were fine. I also replaced the timing belt and the idler pulley and tensioner pulley (both have beargins in them), and the water pump (which has a bearing in it -but was only just beginning to seep a little). I didnt replace any bearings in the transmission, nor the front wheel or rear wheel bearings.

[loulahkitty]

Thank you for your response. I have 2001 Escort Sport w/66K miles. The ford guy at the autoparts store and a local mechanic told me front wheel drive bearings go out as early as 50K, and is a particular problem. There is a slight thumping noise when I turn that sounds like the tire rubbing on something, and road noise is a problem. BUt a friend jacked up the car and listened to the front wheels and said bearings were tight still...... I am getting ready to put @800 miles on it (with new tires for sure0 but was worried about the bearings on the trip.

[loulahkitty]

I was told that front wheel drive cars have bearing problems and that this 2001 escort has particular problems.. If no one else has experienced this, then I am inclinded to just get the tires replaced and go from there.

[Davescort97]

Originally Posted by loulahkitty

I was told that front wheel drive cars have bearing problems and that this 2001 escort has particular problems.. If no one else has experienced this, then I am inclinded to just get the tires replaced and go from there.

Out of hundreds of posts I've only read 2 instances of wheel bearings being replaced. They are lubed and sealed from the factory so they never need to be adjusted or greased. On mine, which is the same model as yours, I have 160k and a friend who has 240k and neither of us have had any wheel bearing problems. I'm inclined to go with your friend. If the bearing is tight and makes no abnormal noise when spun, it is all right.

[GTP Dad]

The bearings on the Escort are a straight bearing (non-tapered) and therefore are not subject to the same stress as the tapered bearings thus they will last a long time. I just had a front wheel bearing replaced on my 1999 LX. It has 125K on the clock. It was in pretty bad shape when it was removed but otherwise no other bearing issues.

[Rickottman]

I can tell you i have a 97 escort lx bearing have never been replace and i am an ASE Certifies technician and they do not need to be with 176k on the car