Hi,

Just started work on replacing my rear struts and I notice when I spin the rear wheel on the car it only goes about 1/2 a revolution before it stops. This is with the wheel off. Is this normal? I checked for play when I still had the wheel on and there was none. Should I replace the bearing as it does have 160K miles on it?

Thanks,
Rob


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97 Bonneville SE

It may not need replacement. If the rear wheel bearings begin to sing & change pitch while driving, then it'* time to replace otherwise if everything is quiet back there I wouldn't replace. The fronts are more susceptable to failure & wearing out.

Is that with the drum on or off?

If the drum was on, it might just be the shoes rubbing on the drum.

About what millage (average) do the wheel bearings go out?

There'* really no average. It all depends on when the seal fails on the bearing, which then allows water into the bearing, and then the bearing goes out. Relativly new cars can need wheel bearings, and some cars might go without a wheel bearing failure for their entire life. There'* just no telling when a bearing is going to go out. But usually, high mileage cars are slightly more prone to failure. (like over 100,000 - 150,000 miles)