Wheel Bearing Repair

[Alamarca]

I have a 2008 toyota 4runner limited v6 4wd with 56,000 miles. I started hearing a humming sound and was told it was wheel bearings. It took 4 days for the shop to fix. They broke an axle in the process and cost me $1300+. My questions are: 1- how long do wheel bearings typically last? 2- is it common for axles to break in this process? 3- does this job typically take 4 days to fix and does it usually cost $1300? $480 for the axle alone? Thanks.

 

[Desert Fox]

They broke the axle- they pay for the axle
For me it would be about an hour to replace it, for a shop that knows what they are doing- 30 minutes. Just guessing as I am not a mechanic professionally.
It took me 2 hours to replace my passenger front axle and the hub has to be removed to do that.

It sounds like you have been over charged for the bearing job and no way I would be paying for what they broke.

 

[Alamarca]

I just wanted to get all my facts straight before I go to the shop and discuss the bill. Looks like this was a job for the toyota shop and not a local mechanic garage. I'm pretty ticked off and feel like I've been taken advantage of.

 

[kaizer427]

front or rear? I can't see how they could break an axle on either side doing a wheel bearing.

The front is more difficult because of the way it all fits together, the rear is pretty straight forward.

That bearing went out way too early unless you are thrashing it.

 

[scottm]

Did they break an axle, or did the wheel bearing spin on it and damage it? I also don't see how they could break an axle, unless they had to hammer it out of the hub and screwed it up. Make sure you are getting the correct information before going ugly.

 

[Sungod]

4 days? Wow! Something is seriously wrong. Wheel bearings are pretty straight forward. That is something that even the most general of mechanics should be able to knock out in a couple of hours. I hope it was for both sides. I would be interested to see where they came up with that kind of cost.

 

[Alamarca]

It was both rear bearings that were replaced. I asked to see the axle. It's actually bent. You can see where they were hitting it to get the part off. He said it was because it was too hot? Or too cold? I don't know what he was rambling about. He's going to look at the bill and see what he can do about the axle price. I don't feel I should pay $480 for a part they destroyed both I'm thinking I'm going to have to get stuck with this one.

 

[Sungod]

About the only way the rear axle could get bent is if you hit a curb. You would probably see some wear on your tires had it gone on for a while. Getting the axle off can be tricky and they probably didn't know how to get it off and got out the hammer and the torch.

 

[samslmmr]

I had mine done at 120k - 3 hours and 350$ out the door from a local mechanic.

 

[BlackWorksInc]

How the hell did they bend the axle? Honestly, you should not be liable for their mistake. I'll tell you from experience it sucks to have to go to your boss and look at the ground and be like, "soooo.. yeah broke a part, needs a new one..." but that doesn't mean the shop can tack it onto your bill...

 

[Desert Fox]

I'm thinking I'm going to have to get stuck with this one.

Why

You have resources to use.
Try to work with the company but dont give them time to work it out.

They need to make the decision that they will pay for the axle and the labor to replace it. Period. This is a yes or no decision, it does not take time to decide.

If they dont cover the costs, the same day file a complaint with the Better Business Bureau BBB.com.
In parallel I would contact your local attorney general and file a complaint.
I would also file a complaint with any other regulatory agency in your town.
Do it all the same time, put pressure on these turds.

You have resources and rights. You also have the responsibility to not take this crap from them, so other consumers dont go through the same thing.

Good luck

 

[ebg18t]

When I had my wheel bearings done at a toyota/Lexus specialty shop I think I paid $450-ish for new half shafts (toyota reman), wheel bearing and labor. I thought it was high, but I wasn't equipped to do the bearing do I paid.

 

[Sungod]

Looks like another one left us hanging......