Wheel bearing on 2004

Joelfixesstuff · Post by **Joelfixesstuff** » 09 Oct 2018, 18:51

Knocking out wheel bearing this weekend and looking for a little input:

1. Replacement looks pretty straightforward but any pitfalls or tricks I should know of?

2. What other problems or issues should I look for while I am at it, and how would I diagnose them?

I don't notice anything other than the loud noise from the wheel bearing but while I have it apart just wondering if anything else is likely to need fixing.

Post by **ggleavitt** » 09 Oct 2018, 23:11

Front or rear?

Front needs axle to back out enough to get a socket on, couple of folks have done it in place but my couple of times it's been easier to take the strut bolts off and tilt the hub back and remove the axle stub. I do straps on the LCAs to pull them down, makes putting the strut bolts back on easier. Good time to do new pads and/or rotors while you're there if they're close enough to needing done.

Rear has enough space to do the bolts from behind. E-brake, pads and/or rotors while you're there if they're close enough to needing done.

Hub is sometimes hard to get off, you may need to pound on it. Good amount of penetrating oil and time. I used a couple spare wheel lugs and put a bar behind them and pounded while turning the hub, just one option if you run into a problem.

Should use new bolts if you can swing it, many are torque to yield. Axle bolt especially, having a new bolt in and properly tightened helps to prevent axle "ping".

Since this is a 2004, might not be any mudflaps in the original bearings, if OE is purchased the parts will be in the box. Install with the extra parts if you can, helps keep water out of the bearing, a known issue for earlier model years. Bearings used to also come with grease, don't think any longer. Instruction notes where grease should go, I used CX axle grease the last set I did.

Post on rear mudflaps may be found here- https://forums.swedespeed.com/showthrea ... g-Mudflaps

edit 101018- add note re: mudflaps, add link

Joelfixesstuff · Post by **Joelfixesstuff** » 11 Oct 2018, 09:50

Excellent. Thanks for the input. It's front, by the way... should have specified.

Post by **ggleavitt** » 11 Oct 2018, 14:57

Wheels bearings start to whine when they fail, easiest to tell which side if you go for a drive where there's some space and steer the car at the speed you hear the whine. Bearing with the problem often quiets down when you turn the wheel in the opposite direction (turn left and whine stops, check the right side). At least that's how it went for me (I replace in pairs) when the right rear bearing started failing in my '05 a number of years back.

Good luck in your repair, plenty write-ups on this job in various Volvo centric forums/sites. Pay attention to torque values, especially the axle bolt (35nm plus 120 degrees). I misread the specs on my first job, snapped the axle bolt right off, was luck to get it back out.

XC90 Front End TorqueSpec.pdf: (15.27 KiB) Downloaded 304 times

Joelfixesstuff · Post by **Joelfixesstuff** » 11 Oct 2018, 16:56

Thanks for the torque specs. I got the bearings shipped today but I didn't look to see if they included new bolts and whadya know, it doesn't. So I have to order them separately. Anyone know the part number / specs on the 4 bolts on the back as well as the axel bolts?

Post by **abscate** » 12 Oct 2018, 02:40

Volvo parts lisle has good exploded diagrams. Use new bolts where specified, important.

Also there is a seal on the inside of the bearing that helps keep water out , check the exploded diagram for that and buy a new one too.

On edit - too bad you don't live in IA. The state program there pays mechanics to pull people's cars out of their driveways every 100k miles and proactively replace the bearings with new OEM parts, and return the car without telling them

If you search the web, you will find people from IA think wheel bearings never fail!

Another mystery explained.

Post by **SuperHerman** » 12 Oct 2018, 12:01

I just had my front wheel bearings replaced on my XC90 4-5 months ago. My shop guys had no issues doing the work. You may want to change out any seals that are impacted for good measure.

I had a new in box XC90 SKF sitting on my shelf and compared it to a Moog offered by Rock Auto. They looked the same. I ordered the Moog from RA and when I opened it up the unit was marked SKF - so at least in my case Moog is/was using SKF for this bearing. Upon replacement of both bearings my mystery noise was cured. Price for the Moog at RA was very favorable.

Post by **abscate** » 15 Oct 2018, 13:28

SuperHerman wrote: ↑12 Oct 2018, 12:01 I just had my front wheel bearings replaced on my XC90 4-5 months ago. My shop guys had no issues doing the work. You may want to change out any seals that are impacted for good measure.

I had a new in box XC90 SKF sitting on my shelf and compared it to a Moog offered by Rock Auto. They looked the same. I ordered the Moog from RA and when I opened it up the unit was marked SKF - so at least in my case Moog is/was using SKF for this bearing. Upon replacement of both bearings my mystery noise was cured. Price for the Moog at RA was very favorable.

You have to be a bit careful as .....brace yourself...

it has become a 'thing' to buy an expensive part from a brick and mortar, buy a cheap part from eBay, and then return the cheap part in the expensive part box to the brick and mortar to save a buck

The next guy to buy the part carries the burden.

This makes me a little ill thinking about this.

Post by **precopster** » 15 Oct 2018, 18:03

Coffee helps with nausea Steve but the grind must be fresh

We've just completed 20,000kms on a GMC front wheel bearing on our 2006 XC90 and so far so good. The original had failed so badly that the ABS ring couldn't be read so ABS codes were present as well as the noise.

Post by **SuperHerman** » 15 Oct 2018, 20:07

Not sure abscate - my point was the RockAuto purchased Moog brand in my case was a SKF bearing reboxed by Moog. Rather common for companies to source components and put them in their own boxes. SKF is a quality bearing - one of the best. Moog sells quality stuff so I had no issue putting a Moog part on my truck. It was a bonus for it to be a reboxed SKF.

On a Subaru rebuild I learned that certain white box items were Clevite. I ordered white box and they were Clevite.

I understand what you are saying about unscrupulous people, but Rock Auto has always been solid for me and I do know what manufacturers are top and which are bottom.