Wheel bearing...how much time do I have? (EDIT: Bought Bearing)

"Mercedes Streeter" (smart) 03/29/2016 at 12:09 • Filed to: Gotta get a bearing on this

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Good morning Oppo!! I’ve been catching up on lost time on here and the fp. Interestingly enough, Jalopnik is more fun when you have more content to read! Anyway, I have a question...

So, I finally have the capabilities to repair the smart...as in I could repair BOTH the belts and the wheel bearings at the same time with tons of cash to spare...but there’s a problem: I won’t have that money until either early or late April.

The right front wheel bearing in the smart started dying around 99k miles or so. I have 105k right now...the wheel bearing is incredibly loud...like drown out my music on max volume loud.

That said, taking a look at my tyres, no cupping. There also isn’t much wobble in the steering wheel. I think there’s more wobble than normal...but I don’t have a good enough memory to confirm.

I’m getting nail biting-ly nervous every time I get behind the wheel.

So I guess my question is, how long can a grinding bearing last? Fixing the car cannot happen right this second as there are higher priority items (like the window tint ticket) that are on my immediate task list...the wheel bearing/belts (and my hair) are on my April task list.

Here’s an awesome matte grey proxy for your time. Also, screw you smart USA, why can’t we have the fun colours?!? lol

Update: Nibby and Hammerhead, thank you. I went ahead and bought the part. Rather be safe than have a wrecked car, right?

HammerheadFistpunch > Mercedes Streeter 03/29/2016 at 12:18

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So, is this question essentially: How do I make myself feel better about driving a car I probably shouldn’t be driving? No offense intended but it seems like the question isn’t; will it last until you can fix it, to which the answer is...it will last until it doesn’t or you fix it, whichever comes first. The question is; should you be driving it? Sounds like the damage is done and that you are replacing the entire hub assay. at this point anyway (I am assuming its a non-serviceable bearing) so any mileage you get out of it is based on how much risk you are willing to assume should a failure occur.

BmanUltima's car still hasn't been fixed yet, he'll get on it tomorrow, honest. > Mercedes Streeter 03/29/2016 at 12:19

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Could last a year, could fail in ten minutes. Hard to say.

Mercedes Streeter > HammerheadFistpunch 03/29/2016 at 12:24

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All the above is entirely correct, unfortunately. :/ The bearing assy is cheap to buy, but unknown amounts to get pressed in and installed...and thanks to my oh so lovely parents, I have to allocate even more funds to stop a bank from suing me...money which otherwise would fix the car right this second.

Mercedes Streeter > BmanUltima's car still hasn't been fixed yet, he'll get on it tomorrow, honest. 03/29/2016 at 12:27

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That’s what I figured. :/ My first car (2001 Kia) went a year and 20k before I sold it off to CarMax with two dead bearings. BUT, I know the smart’s suspension components go through more abuse than the Kia’s. so I have no idea.

HammerheadFistpunch > Mercedes Streeter 03/29/2016 at 12:28

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I hope you know I’m not trying to make light of the situation, just helping you see that the answer to the question of “how long will this bearing last” is “exactly as long as it does” and that’s about all the good advice I can give. Sucks about the repair though, I know that feel. So the bearing is pressed in? As in you don’t have to buy the entire hub assay? Have you looked into buying the entire hub assay, to save the time/money of labor? It might be worth looking at since at this point there is a good chance that there are now other badly worn components as a result of a bad bearing. Also, is this a drive wheel or a non-drive wheel?

Rust and Dust - Oppositelock Forever > HammerheadFistpunch 03/29/2016 at 12:39

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Looks like Smart services the knuckle, hub (holy shit only three lugs?!), bearing, and brake dust shield all as an assembly for $230.00 list. That may be the easiest way to go, especially considering bearing failure (or a half assed job of pressing apart and back together) can damage the knuckle and/or hub.

Mercedes Streeter > HammerheadFistpunch 03/29/2016 at 12:39

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Oh yeah, I know how serious a dying wheel bearing is...hence my question. I know all the dangers of them, just no idea how to tell how much longer the car can go before I’m left walking to work..or worse..

Mercedes-Benz designed this car a little weird. The hub assy is pressed onto a spindle. The dealership procedure is to replace the spindle assy (which includes the steering knuckle and another steering component) which is apparently unnecessary unless the insides of the tyres are cupping (mine aren’t).

Last year, SKF engineered a hub assy that could be pressed onto the spindle, greatly reducing the cost and effort of replacing bearings on smarts...an easy $600 per wheel job at the dealer shouldn’t cost me more than $100 per wheel now.

Also, non-drive wheel. RWD ftw :)

Nibbles > Mercedes Streeter 03/29/2016 at 12:41

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You’ve already put 5-6k on a bad bearing; don’t expect it to last longer. You’re riding on borrowed time :(

Mercedes Streeter > Rust and Dust - Oppositelock Forever 03/29/2016 at 12:44

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Three lugs of rusted on fury! Ugh...of all the parts that have rust protection...

Anyway, my local dealership qouted $230 for the parts, and a sweet $370 for labour...so I’m likely going to an independent shop.

Urambo Tauro > Nibbles 03/29/2016 at 12:46

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Agreed. It’s been “on borrowed time” for a while now. I wouldn’t push it...

Mercedes Streeter > Nibbles 03/29/2016 at 12:46

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I checked my records...bearing started to go at 97k. That means I’m actually 7.5k on a really horrible sounding bearing. Agh fuck, maybe I’ll change my priority list and battle the legal stuffs later.

HammerheadFistpunch > Mercedes Streeter 03/29/2016 at 12:46

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Just be aware that the spindle may need to be looked at, my hub bearing was out a very short amount of time and require a new spindle. I don’t know a lot about smart’s design but if you can get the entire assay cheaper or just a little more and remove the worry, that might be the way to go...however it sounds like it presses onto the spindle (strange) in which case I can’t say. That being said, since its so light and on the non-drive wheel your spindle may be fine. I carry nearly as much weight on my one replaced spindle than your entire smart weighs.

Nibbles > Mercedes Streeter 03/29/2016 at 12:50

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Get that bearing replaced ASAP please. I’m physically worried about you driving that car.

Mercedes Streeter > HammerheadFistpunch 03/29/2016 at 12:51

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I found a video of it! Apparently the spindle is a part of the entire assembly (I have no idea which part is a spindle), so the bearing may not press into it.

Mercedes Streeter > Nibbles 03/29/2016 at 12:55

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I’m worried for myself. Okay. I better do this. I’m not sure if it can wait longer.

HammerheadFistpunch > Mercedes Streeter 03/29/2016 at 12:57

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Gotcha, so the the “spindle” in this case is pressed onto the bearing. Crazy that the entire front wheel is held on by an interference fit, but like I said...very little weight. Seriously I think that entire hub assembly probably weighs less than the replacement inner and outer hub bearings and races for my cruiser.

Mercedes Streeter > Nibbles 03/29/2016 at 13:18

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Bearing bought! $43 after taxes, shipping, and a 5% discount at RockAuto. Now to find the shop that will do it. I think the shop my mum goes to would be willing to do it.

The left bearing isn’t whining, but of course it’ll be in my best intents to replace that soon as well.

Mercedes Streeter > HammerheadFistpunch 03/29/2016 at 13:21

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Wait, so I’ve been looking at pics of it (been so ever since the bearing started making noises)...so basically what you’re saying (and what I observed) is that the wheel is held on by the interference between the hub assy and the spindle/knuckle?

Also: I took the dive and bought the part. Changing my priorities a bit.

HammerheadFistpunch > Mercedes Streeter 03/29/2016 at 13:27

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Thats what it looks like to me.

Luc - The Acadian Oppo > Mercedes Streeter 03/29/2016 at 13:35

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I would do both sides while you are at it. if one side is gone the other side isn’t far behind.

Mercedes Streeter > Luc - The Acadian Oppo 03/29/2016 at 13:45

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Oh I will :)

However, I won’t be able to do both sides at the same time. The left bearing isn’t whining yet, so at least I have some time before I absolutely have to replace it.

Nibbles > Mercedes Streeter 03/29/2016 at 15:15

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Good! GIT ‘ER DUN

JRapp: now as good as new again > Mercedes Streeter 03/29/2016 at 18:57

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I would not drive the car. If only, very slowly to the closest shop if needed.

My dads Firebirds front right bearing seized when he was doing 70 on the highway. It wasn’t making any noticible noise, louder than the engine anyways. It came out of nowhere. He was next to a semi when it happened and it tried to pull him under the trailer. Luckily he’s an experienced driver - life long trucker who’s also driven rally cross, growing up in the then Soviet Estonia. Anyways, the bearing seized, but the wheel didn’t entirely stop it just pulled heavily to the right and he was able to take the next exist, run a couple red lights and pull into the parking log of a random and convenient car shop. When he stopped and the bearing cooled, it welded itself into a single chunk of metal, to the point where the shop had to dolly the car in. The wheel did not rotate.

His experience in knowing how to react to these kinds of sudden failures saved him. The Firebird also being a fairly heavy and low car may have contributed to the fact that the car kept going more or less forward with momentum and didn’t pull to the side and roll. In a Smart, this sort of failure may be more catastrophic.

Anyways, didn’t mean to scare you... well, actually I kinda did.. that’s a dangerous thing..

Mercedes Streeter > JRapp: now as good as new again 03/29/2016 at 22:50

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Unfortunately, not driving the car is not a choice. I don’t live near any of my coworkers, don’t have access to another vehicle, can’t afford to rent one, and public transport doesn’t go near my job. I’m stuck with driving it. :( That said, the parts are already on the way and my shop of choice notified!

pip bip - choose Corrour > Mercedes Streeter 03/30/2016 at 04:17

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buggered bearings last a while , i know as mine did

replaced both fronts and rears , jeez it was quiet after that.