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2004 Chevy Aveo Replaced Front Wheel Bearings 10 times!

Tiny
FOEAMIGO
  • MEMBER
  • 2004 CHEVROLET AVEO
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • MANUAL
  • 210,000 MILES
I have a recurring problem with my front wheel bearings going bad. I have them replaced by 3 different places, including the dealer. They will go bad between 5,000 and 20,000 miles. I have never had a problem with the back wheel bearings and the original's are still on in the rear. I had all the suspension parts replaced in front and back on both sides at around 170,000 miles. I have replaced the front driver side with a new wheel hub and it. Doesn't seem to help with the front wheel bearing going bad. It doesn't make a difference if the bearings are replaced with GM parts or Aftermaket wheel bearings. The front rotors & brakes have been replaced as well. My tires are rotated every 6,000 miles but still seem to wear faster then they should. The tires are balanced as well every 6,000 miles. The front driver side wheel bearing has been replaced 2 times in the last 6 months. With about 9,000 miles put on in that time frame. The passenger front side has been replaced once. It has the orginal wheels of 14" and using 14" tires. Are the wheels causing this or what is cuasing this problem? Every other car I have owned goes at least 100,000 miles before replacing the wheel bearing and some go even longer.
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Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010 AT 12:46 PM

12 Replies

Tiny
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IF the axle nut is not torqued correctly (221 ft lbs) a bearing can fail premature. Try using timkin brand. Lifetime warranty and very good quality.
You can try running a ground strap from the strut to ground to stop built built static electricity such as is done on the neons.
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Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010 AT 1:46 PM
Tiny
DOCFIXIT
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Hi
When did this start happening? Ever been in front end collision? Is a new axle nut used each repair? Torqued to 221 ft. Lbs?
Let me know
Thanks for donate
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Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010 AT 2:02 PM
Tiny
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First time this started happening was around 40,000 miles and has been going on ever since. There has been no accident with the car. Not sure about a new axle nut being used each time or what the torque has been set at. I know that a torque wrench has been used on it.

I have never heard of the "ground strap from the strut to ground" as a solution for wheel bearings wearing out.
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Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010 AT 2:32 PM
Tiny
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The dodge neons use them, Built up static electricity pits the bearings. Will it work in your case, I don't know.

I would be more apt to lean towards mis-torque or bearing quality.
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Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010 AT 4:37 PM
Tiny
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How long should a front wheel bearing last under normal circumstances?
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Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010 AT 4:58 PM
Tiny
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That is kind of a broad question.

An economy bearing, installed correctly, and without engineering flaws of the car manufacturer, I would expect about 20,000. A quality one About 50,000.
Speaking conservatively.
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Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010 AT 4:42 AM
Tiny
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I had the timkin bearing put on the front driver side. The bearing that was took off. Had one spot in the inside where it pitted. No rust and everything else looked fine except the one area on the inside of outer bearing. I had discussed with the mechanic earlier about grounded the front shocks to eliminate static elasticity. He said he would do but when I picked up the car. He said there was no good spot to do it. So it wasn't done. Is there a way to do this? How and where? Right now it seems the driver side front bearing is the one wearing out fast. The passenger side not as fast wearing out and as stated before the back ones are orginal and car has 210,000 miles on it.
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Friday, March 12th, 2010 AT 3:43 PM
Tiny
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Thanks for the update. Timkin is high quality and has a lifetime warranty for the part.

The rear bearing are different than the fronts and are subject to different forces.

If there isn't a place to put on a ground strap then don't. This was done on the neon and PT Cruisers. Those bearing can also go bad, but was somthing the Chyslers engineers used.

IF this was mine, and the bearings are now good, I would want to get the front end alignment done with a rear wheel reference, or a 4-wheel alignment. With the mileage you have on the car, the suspension is not like it was. Because the suspension is more tired, forces on the bearings will be different. More pressure on the outside or inside race is very possible. I would seek to not just get into spec but as close to perfect as possible.

https://www.2carpros.com/topics/suspension/wheel-alignment

IF your guy doesn't do alignments get his recommendation. Keep price out of this, you want it right and want to get a copy of the before and after specs.
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Saturday, March 13th, 2010 AT 4:58 AM
Tiny
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I have used Timkin & just about any other wheel bearing for the front driver side and they still keep going out at 5,000 to 15,000 miles. I don't understand why they keep going bad. I have had new suspension parts, struts & shocks, wheel hubs and everything else done front and back, but does not help. The car now has 245,000 miles but the wheel bearing(front but mostly driver side) problem has been a pain in the rear and pocketbook.
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Wednesday, September 28th, 2011 AT 10:41 PM
Tiny
MERLIN2021
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If it has two piece bearing, us a new race used each time?
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Thursday, September 29th, 2011 AT 8:37 AM
Tiny
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The bearing is one piece.
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Thursday, September 29th, 2011 AT 10:24 PM
Tiny
MERLIN2021
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Then I would check the knuckle
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Friday, September 30th, 2011 AT 6:33 PM

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