1996, 850 Turbo, Front Wheel Bearing Parts Question

Rbaratt · Post by **Rbaratt** » 03 Oct 2015, 06:43

Need to replace front wheel bearing on my '96. Available as a kit from Volvo for around $180, or aftermarket FAG for around $117. Was hoping to hear what success others have had with aftermarket wheel bearing kits.

rocketman4321 · Post by **rocketman4321** » 03 Oct 2015, 07:31

I just put in a FAG one a few weeks ago, so no life data yet. But it was a perfect fit and seemed good quality. Word was that FAG made the OE part for Volvo, and I couldn't see any real differences. Mine did not come with the bolts--had to buy those separately. Old ones came out intact but they're a stretch-preload so replacement is recommended.

My original ('96, 140k) was making noise at speed but had no detectable play on the "!2&6 shake" test, nor could I really feel any roughness turning the wheel. However, once I pulled it, it was an obviously rough bearing. And the car's quiet now!

Post by **cn90** » 03 Oct 2015, 07:38

Yes, FAG is the OEM mfg for Volvo. On ebay it is about $110.

You can't get it lower than $110-$120 range, and in current dollars, $110-$120 is a fair price for a quality product.

Aftermarket bearings usually go out at 20K-30K range.

PS: If you are short of budget, go to junk yard and look for cars with recently replaced bearing, but this is a hit-and-miss game, you may hit an OEM/FAG bearing or a no-name bearing.

Post by **kahl** » 03 Oct 2015, 07:41

I've used these FAG wheel bearing on two cars. One was a S80 and a V70XC several years ago with no issues. Both cars have gone over 30K miles.

Post by **cn90** » 03 Oct 2015, 07:54

For those of you with failed bearings, when did yours fail?

PS: I am at 171K with stock bearing, but I am hearing noise that suggest wheel bearing, which I will investigate this weekend.

Post by **abscate** » 03 Oct 2015, 08:20

First one , driver side at 160k and the passenger side just went at 170k miles

Car has been in NY it's whole life

Post by **kahl** » 03 Oct 2015, 08:28

2000 V70 with 170K , 2003 S80 at 128K

Post by **erikv11** » 03 Oct 2015, 21:41

I've owned six p80 cars, none of those have ever had a failed wheel bearing.

Post by **abscate** » 04 Oct 2015, 05:27

erikv11 wrote:I've owned six p80 cars, none of those have ever had a failed wheel bearing.

KahL...you and I are not living cleanly or something......

Post by **erikv11** » 04 Oct 2015, 09:21

Roads, methinks. I am in Chicago right now and the roads are horrendous. In smaller, warmer midwest cities and surrounding areas they are not bad at all and are repaired quite frequently. Ask the Texas or California members, likely the failure rate there is near zero, too.