Wheel bearing problem! - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

daysailor7 · 05-05-2009, 04:51 PM

Has anyone had problems with rear wheel bearings? My S has only 49K miles and has a bad rear bearing that will cost me $800 to replace. The Porsche dealer rep said that failed wheel bearings were not uncommon on Boxsters. At $800 a pop, that is bad news for those of us who own one. I owned more than twenty cars in my life and have NEVER had a wheel bearing fail.

chitowndad · 05-05-2009, 06:02 PM

just curious, what's the symptoms of a bad bearing?

husker boxster · 05-05-2009, 06:09 PM

Let me guess - you own an 01 or 02 S and it was the rt rear bearing that failed?

I, along with several others on the forum that own(ed) 01 or 02 Ss have had this problem too. My contention is Porsche used a bad batch of bearings during these yrs but I can't seem to get anyone else to agree. But don't know what good it'll do if they would.

Porsche wouldn't even cover my 01S's bearing replacement under CPO as they said this was a part that wears out so they wouldn't pay for it. Yeah it wears out, about twice as fas as it should.

mdex · 05-05-2009, 06:15 PM

Wheel bearings are a wear item.. I have replaced them in many cars. When you put extreme cornering stress on a wheel bearing it will fail earlier so sports cars will go through them from time to time.

$800 per bearing to replace is way out of line. It is a typical stealership price, but you will pay half or less at an independent as it isn't a big deal to change.

Kirk · 05-05-2009, 06:25 PM

I just replaced both of the rear bearings on my '00 S. It was indeed the right rear that failed though. I replaced the left just while I was at it. It's not a bad job to do, but I had to buy the SIR tool for $260 from Pelican Parts to do it. With that tool it was not too difficult to press out the hub and bearings and then press the new bearing in and the hub back on. The right rear bearings had definitely dried out and were full of metal shavings. The car is MUCH quieter now.

Overall I paid $260 for the SIR tool, $30 for shipping, and $25 in tax - so that was spendy. The bearings were only $36 each though, total cost about $400 and I still keep the tool to use for the front bearings or on my 996.

The local independent shop wanted $600 just to remove the bearings and press in the new ones even if I brought them the wheel carrier!!! That was just insane as I was going to do 85% of the work.

Kirk

Gent · 07-04-2010, 06:59 PM

Sorry to bump an old topic, but do you guys think it's worthwhile to (have a shop) replace the opposite bearing when one goes?

gschotland · 07-04-2010, 10:38 PM

I'd get them both done and get it over with.

Why not DIY with this bearing tool? Works on all Boxsters. Tough to beat at $105+shipping. Instructions on the site say 2 hrs per side. Knock out the whole job in 1/2 a day even w/lots of pp breaks. :-)

I'm going to be getting one soon for my '02S.

http://www.arnnworx.com/BearingTool1.htm

husker boxster · 07-05-2010, 05:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gent

do you guys think it's worthwhile to (have a shop) replace the opposite bearing when one goes?

Only for piece of mind. I was recently getting tires for my bad weather car and they said the wheel bearing was bad in my right front. I asked your very question about replacing both sides. They said it wasn't necessary.

I also only had the rt rear changed on my previous 01S.

edevlin · 07-05-2010, 05:56 AM

"Why not DIY with this bearing tool? Works on all Boxsters. Tough to beat at $105+shipping. Instructions on the site say 2 hrs per side."

I am having both my rear wheel bearings replaced tomorrow by my local indi shop. They say to allow 3hrs/side and they know how to do it, perhaps 2 hrs a side for a DIY is optomistic....

Ed

Wret · 07-06-2010, 06:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gschotland

I'd get them both done and get it over with.

Why not DIY with this bearing tool? Works on all Boxsters. Tough to beat at $105+shipping. Instructions on the site say 2 hrs per side. Knock out the whole job in 1/2 a day even w/lots of pp breaks. :-)

I'm going to be getting one soon for my '02S.

http://www.arnnworx.com/BearingTool1.htm

That bearing tool won't pull the hub. There is a special tool for that that goes for about $250 but I was able to use a generic hub puller for mine.