OEM wheel bearing - early failure

bw77 · Post by **bw77** » 17 Aug 2010, 11:58

Hearing a whining noise from the LF wheel, I stopped at the dealership to have it checked out. Turns out the bearing has gone bad. Dealership replaced it 17 months ago, 10K miles with a genuine Volvo bearing/hub assembly. The original part had lasted 96K miles. I will replace it myself this time, but I wonder about the quality of genuine Volvo wheel bearings. If not OEM, then what?

99 S70GLT

Post by **polskamafia mjl** » 17 Aug 2010, 15:10

I remember a few weeks ago a member who went through 3 OEM bearings in a span of a few hundred miles!! Unfortunately I didn't follow that thread to find out what the cause/solution was.

Warren561 · Post by **Warren561** » 17 Aug 2010, 15:53

17 months on a Volvo wheel bearing?

How's your alignment? Perhaps your suspension is messed up and is placing extra strain on the bearing?

oughorian · Post by **oughorian** » 17 Aug 2010, 16:41

Last month I replaced my 1996 850 brake rotor and pads, the rotors was original at 125k I don't know how many time but the prev. owner changed the pads before I bought the car, about %80 left, but because I wanted to do the complete brake job I changed the pads too. When I checked the removed pads they were oem VOLVO part but made in INDIA so don't be surprised if your wheel bearings lasts too short who knowes they might use CHINY"s parts with VOLVO logo as original.

FCPEURO · Post by **FCPEURO** » 17 Aug 2010, 17:13

I know more and more of the Genuine Volvo parts are being made in China and India now. The Volvo brake pads for one are crap from what I hear. As for the bearing, I would not be surprised if it was made in India too. FWIW, if the bearing goes in 10 months, it should be warranted.

bw77 · Post by **bw77** » 17 Aug 2010, 17:15

Warren561 wrote:17 months on a Volvo wheel bearing?

How's your alignment? Perhaps your suspension is messed up and is placing extra strain on the bearing?

I would say the suspension is good. Tire wear is even, steering is good. And I am sure the dealership mechanic would have told me if there was something that needed repair with the suspension.

FCPEURO · Post by **FCPEURO** » 17 Aug 2010, 17:17

True, sounds like it was just a bad part from the beginning. Are they at least warranting the part?

bw77 · Post by **bw77** » 17 Aug 2010, 17:23

FCPGroton wrote:I know more and more of the Genuine Volvo parts are being made in China and India now. The Volvo brake pads for one are crap from what I hear. As for the bearing, I would not be surprised if it was made in India too. FWIW, if the bearing goes in 10 months, it should be warranted.

The bearing went bad after 17 months/10K miles. The warrantee is for 12 months, and they would not make an exception in my case.

When I replace the bearing I will check it for country of origin. The new one will be FAG made in Gemany.

FCPEURO · Post by **FCPEURO** » 17 Aug 2010, 17:29

The FAG is a good one. You should be ok with that.

Also, I was confused, I thought it was only 10 months old. Sorry about that.

funbuffalo24 · Post by **funbuffalo24** » 18 Aug 2010, 19:24

my oem bearing on the passenger front was replaced last august at 131k miles. Just four weeks ago in july, at 141k, I had to get it replaced. It was still waranteed, so it was replaced for free, but I totally feel your pain. Now four weeks later, my inner cv is sounding like its rumbling. It was dry, so I did have some grease shot up in there. I'd say the majority of my replacement parts have been on the front suspension & driveshafts.