Wheel Bearing
 

I have a 2001 Boxster S that has only 37K on it and ive loved every mile! Bad news today that I need to replace a right rear bearing on the tire. I thought it was my Yokohama's that were making the noise but i was wrong. Dealer tells me $90 for the part. No biggie. Strangely couldnt tell me the labor which is a bit distressing. Ive asked him to hold off on work until he gives me an estimate.
(I really dont like this dealership and am thinking of changing or finding a non-dealer Porsche certified garage).

Anyone have a clue what I can expect for labor ? Ive looked around on the web and I found one estimate of 4hrs and another of 5. There seems to be uncertainty on the issue of an alignment being required. Ive seen more folks say no than yes to the alignment.

Any thoughts? Id really appreciate any information/experiences others have had with wheel bearings.

Thanks for any help advice

Jeff

According to AllData, it is a 4.2 hour billable job for one side and 6.8 hour billable for both sides in the rear. The part lists for $71.88.

If it's not under warranty, I'd find a good local Porsche specialist instead of the dealer or DIY the job if you are interested in that. DIY is difficult unless you have the right tools. It requires a press to get it out and back in. Also, you have to heat the new bearing to 100C (???F) before putting it in.

For the alignment, even if it does not call for one I would do it anyway or at least watch the tire closely for a few hundred miles to make sure it's wearing ok.

was it only a noise? or could you feel a vibration at speed?

Hi,

The tools required aren't too exotic, a couple of Drifts (you can substitute Large Sockets in place of these), a Bearing Puller, and a Bearing Driver(a steel plate can substitute for this). You can also get a Hydraulic Press for under $100 from places like Harbor Freight and the like, very useful tool to have. I have these tools, as do several other DIY'ers I know.

The reason you have to heat the Bearing Housing to 100° C (which you can do by dipping it into Boiling Water (100°C - 212°F), is that the Bearing is what is known as a Negative Fit Bearing. By heating the Bearing Housing, which is aluminum, you expand it. Then you drive the bearing into place and the Bearing Housing contracts around it. Negative Fit Bearings and Seals are fairly common. Both the Front and Rear Seals on my Lotus Esprit Engine are Negative Fit. You dip the Front/Rear Covers into Boiling Water, then drive the Seal into it w/ a centering tool, the cover contracts around the Seal. BTW, these RMS do not leak... :p

Happy Motoring!...Jim'99

Jim, I sure would like to see some pix of your Lotus. Post some in a new thread if you dare do it here!

He has one pic in this thread: http://986forum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3821&referrerid=2278

Beautimous!!! I love the Lotus Esprit!

Hi,

No Dare to it. Porsche is a Great Performance Car, Lotus is a Great Performance Car.

Porsche has a Great Racing Heritage, Lotus has a Great Racing Heritage.

In fact, Lotus was, until the last few years, the winningest Manufacturer in Formula 1 as a percentage of Wins/Starts. They had such Great Drivers as: Jim Clark, Graham Hill, Mario Andretti, Martin Donnelly, Jackie Icxs, Emmerson Fitipaldi, Nikki Lauda, Mikka Hakkinen and Ayrton Senna. Lotus has also won at LeMans and Indianapolis 500. The STP Turbine Powered Indy Racers were a Lotus Chassis, the Type 56B. Lotus was the 1st Manufacturer to use a mid-engined design - the legendary Type 25 ('62-'65), and the 1st to use aerodynamic Downforce and Wings - the Type 49 ('67-'69).

Lotus Founder, Colin Chapman, was the 1st to design cars using the minimum possible weight to achieve the desired result and coined the phrase "If you want it to go faster, Add Lightness!". Lotus design philosophy was to have each of their race cars contain the minimum required to finish the race - they wanted their cars to die on the Victory Lap, any more, and the car was not at maximum efficiency. Unfortunately, they sometimes miscalculated this and Lotus also holds the Dubious record of having lost the greatest number of Gran Prixs while leading on the Final Lap - 11 (9 due to mechanical DNF's).

My 1985 Mid-Year Lotus Turbo Esprit is 1 of 61 built as Test Mules for Lotus Engineering. It contains Suspension Components, Brakes and Tranny which were not added to Production Cars until the 1988 Model Year. Lotus produced 200 Production Models of the 1985 Lotus Turbo Esprit with about a third coming to the US. Each car is Hand-Built.

Loving one does not preclude love for the other. I love them both, and fortunately have room for both in my garage. :)

Here's a little better pic than the one I posted earlier... enjoy!

Happy Motoring!...Jim'99

HI,

And... my other PlayToy... enjoy!!

Happy Motoring!...Jim'99

One more... you can never have enough Playtoys..!! ;)

Happy Motoring!...Jim'99