Front Wheel Bearing: Need a good Mechanic in Goodyear, Avondale, West Phoenix area

[MVP]

I have a front wheel bearing that needs to be replaced, and since it is a press in bearing, it looks to need an experienced mechanic. Someone who knows what he is doing, and won't take my next paycheck to get it done.

I've been quoted a cool $525 to replace the bearing, so I'm now looking for a good mechanic that doesn't cost an arm and a leg. I mean, after all, it is a my project truck...

Am I crazy thinking that $525 is a lot higher than it should be? I'd like to get some opinions, and also referrals if anyone knows a quality mechanic that does side jobs.

 

[StingRay98-00]

I'm not sure of the book time on that job but consider shop rates of 150 dollars per hour in places. So say 3 hours plus parts. Not hard to imagine that.

 

[DirtyDanno]

Local

I am in the area. Dreaming Summit, I may know a guy or two.
PM sent with contact info

 

[MVP]

I am in the area. Dreaming Summit, I may know a guy or two.
PM sent with contact info

Thanks, Danno. I'll be calling you shortly.

 

[Nelsonmd]

It's a project truck you say? Do it yourself. After all, that's what project truck is for, isn't it?

Front wheel bearings aren't actually that hard to do, you just need some special tools. You can buy the parts and tools for much less than $500. Check out the link in my sig, I did this myself a few years ago.

Ah heck, HERE's the direct link

Here's what you need:
12-ton press from HF (~$150)
3-jaw puller from HF (~$20)
New links and bolts for said puller (~$20)
Bearing (~$80)
[assuming you have a drill and hack saw already for making the links]

Optional:
Welder for making jigs (~$100 + ~$75 for gear/mask)

This assumes you reuse your seals and C-clip, which you should be able to do if you are careful.

Anyway, for much less than the mechanic's bill, you can do it yourself, learn how to do it, gain experience, and have some good tools forever. If you opt for the welder, then you have an incredibly useful tool and this gives you an excuse to buy it and still save money.

 

[MVP]

It's a project truck you say? Do it yourself. After all, that's what project truck is for, isn't it?

Front wheel bearings aren't actually that hard to do, you just need some special tools. You can buy the parts and tools for much less than $500. Check out the link in my sig, I did this myself a few years ago.

Ah heck, HERE's the direct link

Here's what you need:
12-ton press from HF (~$150)
3-jaw puller from HF (~$20)
New links and bolts for said puller (~$20)
Bearing (~$80)
[assuming you have a drill and hack saw already for making the links]

Optional:
Welder for making jigs (~$100 + ~$75 for gear/mask)

This assumes you reuse your seals and C-clip, which you should be able to do if you are careful.

Anyway, for much less than the mechanic's bill, you can do it yourself, learn how to do it, gain experience, and have some good tools forever. If you opt for the welder, then you have an incredibly useful tool and this gives you an excuse to buy it and still save money.

Hey Nelson, thanks for chiming in on the topic.

You know, I read your piece a few weeks back, while researching the whole wheel bearing R+R and how I could do it myself. Can't say at this time whether your write up, and all you encountered, has persuaded me or deterred me from trying the DIY route.

I have the mechanical aptitude, and curiosity to give this a shot. But I also have a wife, 2 kids, and not a lot of spare time to wrench. That and my garage is full with my old car and a quad, with no room for other indoor projects.

Probably my biggest limiting factors is time. I've got a hectic job with an 80-mile round trip commute, and competing projects around the house. I also don't have an adequate shop to set up and keep the tools. It's over 100 degrees here for around the next 2 months, so with no shade the metal can be very tough to work with.

Guess at this point I would need to assess whether I could avoid all the problems that you had, and still get it done. Or should I just pull the spindles off the truck and have a shop press out the old and press in the new bearings. Without a welder, I am leaning towards pulling the spindles and bringing them to a shop for R+R of the bearings.

I'm open to opinions and options, so let 'em rip.....

 

[Atrox Caeda]

It's a project truck you say? Do it yourself. After all, that's what project truck is for, isn't it?


Anyway, for much less than the mechanic's bill, you can do it yourself, learn how to do it, gain experience, and have some good tools forever. If you opt for the welder, then you have an incredibly useful tool and this gives you an excuse to buy it and still save money.

You will not have those "good tools" forever if you get them from HF. Add, 50-75% to costs if you want to keep them forever.

However I still agree. I did this the other day for a buddy with a Subaru and we just went down to a local shop to have them press the bearings in. The rest we did no problem, even pressing them out I used my sliders/weight of my vehicle, an old brake rotor, and my bottle jack to press the bearings out.