Thread: Discussion on wheel hubs

Any comments about napa hubs? I've got a friend that works there and he said napa bearings are used in airplanes and that the hubs come with a 3yr warranty. I want to fix mine this weekend and not paying $175 for a timkin locally when I can order it online for $100. The napa hub is $130

Edit: apparently they are skf bearings

skf is pretty good

Originally Posted by dirtmaster88

Any comments about napa hubs? I've got a friend that works there and he said napa bearings are used in airplanes and that the hubs come with a 3yr warranty. I want to fix mine this weekend and not paying $175 for a timkin locally when I can order it online for $100. The napa hub is $130

Edit: apparently they are skf bearings

if they have a 3 yr warranty, that sounds like a decent deal to me

on topic noob question sorry in advance, does it have to be a 'groaning, or humming sound' could it be an almost metallic chirping sound? cause i'm pretty paranoid about my bearings right now

I replaced both of the front hubs on my stock '97 GT with SKF's from Pep Boys (NAPA's price was much higher here - it depends on who you are and who you know as to what price NAPA gives you - in my experience). They were actually made in USA (yeah!) and I torqued them properly, but one got noisy in less than a year. The replacement I got under warranty was made in Korea (drat!), but supposedly has an improved seal design. Older SKFs are blue, newer ones are green. Make sure you don't lose your receipt in either case. I'm hoping maybe I just had bad luck, SKF is usually top quality. BTW all these hubs came with both plastic and metal clips, my OEs were metal.
David

Originally Posted by 94z28elky

I replaced both of the front hubs on my stock '97 GT with SKF's from Pep Boys (NAPA's price was much higher here - it depends on who you are and who you know as to what price NAPA gives you - in my experience). They were actually made in USA (yeah!) and I torqued them properly, but one got noisy in less than a year. The replacement I got under warranty was made in Korea (drat!), but supposedly has an improved seal design. Older SKFs are blue, newer ones are green. Make sure you don't lose your receipt in either case. I'm hoping maybe I just had bad luck, SKF is usually top quality. BTW all these hubs came with both plastic and metal clips, my OEs were metal.
David

This post was amazingly helpful, thank you. Ya the $130 price is with a discount, I have a friend at NAPA I think they're normally $180. Gonna do this tomorrow, can't wait to regain my hearing when driving lol

Between my '97 GTP, my GF's '97 GTP and my sister '98 Regal, I have replaced only one OEM front hub in my GTP because it was getting some slight play in it. The GF is still on her original ones, and my sister, has replaced hers 6 or 7 times now, and its replaced with the O'Reilly specials as we call them. They wear out and knock within the warranty period, so we just keep taking them back.

a year ago, talked my dad into spending the extra money, and buy some Timkins. Shes been good ever since on my sister car.

I have to suggest something here...

Be as it may sound like a awesome deal, and a cheap price buying off line, the only GOOD that can come of that is buying to fix the problem for a car your getting ready to sell. If you plan on keeping your car, its just life, that these will probably wear out, and do it in the general warranty period. You have to remove it, ship it back wait on them to APPROVE the return of them inspecting it and saying in their own opinion that its bad or not, so its their word against yours, so you have that risk involved in them screwing you and not approving it, (yes I have heard of this happening and even ZZP is guilty of it too sad to say) and have return shipping back, another charge, all the while you cant drive your car for atleast a week while your bearings is being shipped around.

Still sound like a good deal?

if you buy local, ya it may cost a little more, but if it wears out or fails, you can simply take it off, run into town (or get a ride) swap it out, head home and reinstall and be on your way in about 2 or 3 hours tops.

Just something to think about and ponder.


Why they wear out? Its a disposable part, its not made to last for ever. if it were the old school grease able/rebuild able bearing grease on a spindle...ya, we probably wouldn't have the problems we do. Driving in the elements can wear them out, sand, dirt, salt, water, and random chunks of road gunk and grime that can get kick up on them from the tires can cause them to wear out. They are sealed, but not totally sealed ya know.

~F~

Finally some one that understands the cheapest stuff you can find wont last.

Originally Posted by jerZcavy4120

on topic noob question sorry in advance, does it have to be a 'groaning, or humming sound' could it be an almost metallic chirping sound? cause i'm pretty paranoid about my bearings right now

I would guess it's possible. A bearing dries out or gets gummed up enough to chirp instead of groaning. Seems most often that would be brake/rotor related.

Did mine this weekend, what a *****! Unless you live in a warmer climate or have the tools available (oxy-acetylene torch and impact wrench), do yourselves a favor and just bring it in. Completely messed up the cv halfshaft before I could get this thing off. Snapped two 1/2" drive ratchets just trying to get the axle nut off and smashed the hell outta the cv halfshaft with a sledge hammer. Here's some pics of my adventure.

Crap, my network won't let me see your pictures but I had a hell of a time with one of them being seized on my '05 but I learned my lesson and WD-40'd the hell out of the other front the night before and was MUCH easier.

Sad part is I actually bought a removal tool and there was no way in hell that thing was going to get the bearing off! So now it sits, unused on the shelf. Stuff we learn the hard way!