Front wheel bearing problems?

[Erich Z]

I took in my wheels to get some new tires put on, and noticed there was a little plastic jacket kind of rattling around on the hub of the front wheel. Took it in anyway, and the shop thinks the front wheel bearing needs to be replaced. It's a little plastic cylinder that sticks out of the wheel's hub where the axle goes, and it kind of just flops around there.

Is that normal, or am I looking at replacing the bearings on the front wheel? How much should that cost, and should I just do it myself?

[sharpy]

?

They cost bugger all and you can do it ure self. Just put ure finger inside the bearing and turn and see if it feels gritty or stiff. The main hassle is getting the inner sleave "kinked' sideways enough to get a long rod in behind the bearing to push/hit out the other side. And dont bend ure disc when u do it.

[bwringer]

Wheel bearings are very cheap and fairly easy to replace. I normally replace mine every other tire change.

Bearings should be about $10 - $15 for both.

[Erich Z]

The part that's loose is number 7 on the diagram here under the "front wheel" section. Should that be a bit loose? Like rattling around when the wheel is off the axle?

[salty_monk]

It's just a spacer I think... if you don't have any tension on the axle then it will be loose...

Dan

[rickt]

Sure looks like a spacer. If the axle is out, the spacer will be loose and rattle around. I don't think this has any relation to your wheel bearings.

rickt

[Erich Z]

Nope, I checked and it's a spacer - the bearings feel fine.

[gs_schmuck]

Wheel bearings are very cheap and fairly easy to replace. I normally replace mine every other tire change.

Bearings should be about $10 - $15 for both.

How do you press your bearings in?

[Steve]

How do you press your bearings in?

Better yet...how do you get them out?

.