wheel bearings

[98outbackpdx]

my front wheel bearings are bad. a couple of questions, is $800 fair for the (2) front wheel bearings and spindles if needed, if spindles are not needed the price would go down to about $630? also when i get these done will it improve my fuel economy, because i am averaging about 22-23 mpg on highway trips. i actually got a 19.4 mpg on a highway trip but in all fairness i was going about 80 mph.

[legacy98gt]

the dealer by my house charges 100 dollers each tire plus the bearings and seals and wat not are about 70. for the spindle i got mine from a junk yard for 40 dollers but new they cost about 300 dollers for just the spindle, and yeah you will probobly get better gas millage. how do you now there bad?

[98outbackpdx]

the dealer by my house charges 100 dollers each tire plus the bearings and seals and wat not are about 70. for the spindle i got mine from a junk yard for 40 dollers but new they cost about 300 dollers for just the spindle, and yeah you will probobly get better gas millage. how do you now there bad?

i know they are bad cuz they are making a wawawawa kind of noise when i am driving, and 3 mechanics including 1 dealer have said that my front wheel bearings are bad. plus popping up over the curb doesn't help, used to driving things on a truck chassis

[98outbackpdx]

also the Napa in my town the spindles are $85 per my mechanics cost, all parts are through Napa.

[legacy98gt]

you probobly dont need new spindles maybe new hubs

[legacy98gt]

and napa sells spindles?

[impreza_GC8]

Are you sure they are BOTH bad? Does the noise stop when you turn to the left or to the right? Normally a wheel bearing is at least a few hundred so that seems like a fair price for two. You shouldn't need new knuckles, pull the old bearing out, press new ones in. Hopefully.

[98outbackpdx]

it doesnt matter which way i turn it does it in a straight line and you can hear it from both driver and passenger sides, plus my mechanic advised me to replace both of them since the one is bad and the car has 194,XXX miles on it the other one is likely to go out, if it is not already bad.

[d1giPhux]

No doubt they are both bad if you are hearing noises from both sides. I've replaced my wheel bearings a bunch of times. Might be a good idea to get new hubs (or have them closely inspect yours for wear) if you can.. that way.. if yours are mangled up.. you wont ruin your new bearings right away.

[98outbackpdx]

ok so i had the RF one replaced because it was the worst. now after 3-4k miles i am smelling a burning, it smells like burning brakes, coming from the RF wheel. is that normal, like something burning is off, or do i need to take it in again. it does not pull either way. please let me know. i dont want to break something else.

[ouch1011]

Shouldn't be anything burning after replacing a wheel bearing. Get it checked out.