Technical Wheel Bearing

[SB1500]

Front right driver side needs a new wheel bearing, and I've got a few questions maybe some of you could help with about ordering and fitting a new part.

A local motor factor quoted £48, seemed a bit steep, but does that sound about right? The benefit being I could fit it tonight. If not, Shop4Parts is selling them for £35 and AutoDoc £14 ish.

- Does brand matter? I am opting for SKF if I have to order online
- Do I need a kit? OR just the bearing itself
- What MM / Diameter is it? AutoDoc gives the choice to narrow it down by so many different sizes


Is this a messy / Pain-in-the-ass job?

As far as I know they're original wheel bearings, at 150k+ miles that's pretty good! I wonder which brand Fiat used at the factory for that.

I learnt a handy trick from my uncle, he said if you spin the wheel and hold the suspension spring you'll feel it vibrating badly when the bearing is gone. Sure enough, it is! But the whine from it while driving to work yesterday set off alarm bells in my head. Pretty sure it's the front right wheel bearing

 

[Goudrons]

This will give you an idea of a front wheel bearing replacement.


I would buy a quality bearing, like SKF or FAG.
The kit comes with a new circlip and hub nut.

 

[The Panda Nut]

I did a bearing on our Seat last year and got a severe telling off from my mates at the local refuse depot for buying a VW part. They assure me there are only 2 bearing manufacturers in Europe and that buying from a motor factor will get exactly the same part. He proceeded to show me the bearing manufacturers logo on a variety they had in stock for vans etc. Dont worry about brand.

 

[jrkitching]

The hub nut will be tight. You'll likely find it easier (and safer) to initially loosen it whilst the wheels are on the car and the car is on the ground. Same goes for final tightening.

Folks have pulled cars off axle stands trying to loosen hub nuts.

 

[DaveMcT]

You "can" do the job without a bearing press but its a whole lot harder and the bearing is likely to separate itself. That's not terrible but needs care to get the errant inner back into place.
Chilling the bearing in the freezer and heating the hub carrier in an oven helps but the fit is very tight and its likely to get stuck 1/2 way in. That's when you wish you'd got that bearing press tool

The outside inner race will be hard onto the splined hub centre. You can buy a new centre or slit the race with an angle grinder to crack it. Doing that risks slitting the splined inner so be careful.

Bearing fitting tools. Grease the thread really well.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Heavy-Duty-Wheel-Bearing-Removal-Professional-Tool-Set-Kit-For-Front-Wheel-Drive/264094652983?hash=item3d7d449a37:g:0WcAAOSwuMZZG-LP