However, if the wheel bearing replacement cost is not a constraint, you should probably replace both. If one wheel bearing has reached the end of its life, chances are that the bearing on the other side would be nearing its end of service life as well. In that case, replacing both the wheel bearings together makes sense.

Wheel bearings usually have a long life span of around 80,000 to 100,000 miles. Some may last for 150,000 miles too. There’s no standard maintenance schedule for wheel bearing replacement.

Replacing a wheel bearing is an intermediate job that requires specialized tools and car part knowledge. If you’re not sure, it’s better to have a professional perform the replacement for you.

On a separate note, since you are in there replacing your water pump, replace the timing belt and any tensioners which may be there with it. No sense in having to take it apart in another couple thousand miles to get it done. This would be the same reasoning behind getting the water pump done when you do your timing belt. It's just cheap insurance and beats having to do the same work twice.

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Wheel bearings are a set of steel balls or tapered bearings that roll around inside a metal casing called a race. This casing is located between the drive axle and the brake discs (or drums.)

Timing belt and water pumpproblems

Following that, the cost for a wheel bearing averages between $50 to $120, while a new wheel hub could set you back by $200 to $500.

Generally, a wheel bearing replacement could cost anywhere between $150 to $800. The cost will vary as per the make and model of your vehicle, part price, and labor charges in your area.

Timing belt and water pumpreplacement cost

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We perform over 600 repair and maintenance services including oil changes, brakes, diagnostics, belts and hoses, and more. The best part? We come to you with all the necessary tools and parts.

Timing belt and water pumpsymptoms

When you hear a growling or grinding noise from your wheels, it could indicate that its wheel bearing is failing, usually due to a lack of lubrication.

Timing belt and water pumpAudi A3

Wheel bearings are a vital part of your car’s steering, braking, and suspension systems, allowing you to turn your wheels smoothly with minimal friction.

Depending on your repair, you will receive an instant quote or one directly from one of our advisors during business hours.

Timing belt and water pumpAudi A4

Having snapped alternator and water pump belts in the past, I feel the most likely reason is engine safety. If it's a non-interference engine, having the timing belt drive the water pump ensures that the engine safely shuts down in the event that the water pump belt breaks. That way you're just replacing a timing belt instead of rebuilding the engine after it overheats.

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Most overhead cam engines which run a timing belt use this method to propel the water pump. It has been done this way for a long while.

Timing belt and water pumpreplacement

The labor charges for a wheel bearing replacement can fall between $60 to $300. And changing the wheel bearing usually takes around 1 to 1.5 hours.

When should you replacetiming belt and water pump

Historically the water pump was at the front of the engine in close proximity to the vehicle radiator, when vehicles were mostly rear wheel drive. There is no real advantage with todays vehicles but they continue to be at the front of the engine. Using the timing belt to drive the water pump lends itself to compactness at the front end of the engine. Some special purpose vehicles have remote or supplementary water pumps.

How long does it take to replacetiming belt and water pump

Our certified mobile mechanics come to your home or office to complete your repair. We make the process easy from start to finish by offering upfront pricing, online booking, after-hours support, and a full warranty.

However, like any other car part, wheel bearings can wear out sooner if you frequently drive over potholes or drive too fast over speed bumps. Water, dust, sand, etc., can also get to the bearings and contaminate the grease that keeps them lubricated.

I drive a 1999 Chrysler 300M, V6 3.5L engine. I am about to start a water pump replacement repair. I've discovered that the water pump is driven off of the timing belt, rather than either of the two fan belts on the front. This obviously complicates the repair quite a bit. What is the advantage to running it off of the timing belt? Why is it designed this way?

Delaying a replacement could lead to excessive vibration in your steering wheel, or you may experience your vehicle pulling to one side. A damaged wheel bearing will also strain the hub assembly, CV (constant velocity) joint, and your vehicle’s transmission.

Engine safety. If you lose an accessory belt driven water pump, you're likely to keep driving, thinking the "oh, I just don't have an alternator" while you're busy cooking your engine beyond repair (normally with no temperature notification/change, if anything it'll read cold). When the water pump is on with the timing belt (or geared to crankshaft as is occasionally the case), if the water pump seizes and tosses the belt, the engine will shutdown. Inconvenient, but rarely dangerous, and saves a very expensive repair.

I think the main reason for this is convenience. It's an easy place to run the water pump. If you ran it out to a fan belt, it would be in the way of the timing belt while doing it, or it would be a really awkward mess trying to work around it. The second reason is for compactness. With the water pump stuck out of the way, it physically makes the engine shorter, which means it will fit in the hole which is the engine bay a little easier.

Some cars come with a wheel bearing that you can separate from the wheel hub, while others may have the wheel bearing as a part of the hub itself. If it’s possible to separate them, you only need to pay for the wheel bearing, which is cheaper than buying the whole new hub. That said, it’s a more labor-intensive job.