wheel bearings

[kowari]

I,ve got a slight movement on all four wheels on my Defender, done about 170,000, and I had intended to tighten the hub nut etc and was looking for a cheap (ish) hub spanner.

However I have been told that I should renew the bearings on all four wheels to be on the safe side, from what i can tell they havnt been changed since the truck was new (94). the cost quoted was around $800 inc. labour.

what I would like is some oppinions as to:
A/ would you go ahead and tighten the nuts?

B/ is it the sort of average kind of job that can be tackled in the drive over a weekend etc

C/ does that quote sound OK? the mechanic that made it comes across as being a pretty genuine guy.
I havn't had any work done on the landy since I bought it a couple of years ago, I do all the oils, lubes, brakes filters etc myself and will be fitting new front shoks in the next week or so, so I dont really have a problem with getting the bearings done by a pro it's just that I like to do whatever work I can on it myself.

any comments by you more experianced home mechanics would be appretiated.

[abaddonxi]

Not that hard a job, spanner is about $20. If you've taken care of all the rest of it for the last couple of years the bearings shouldn't be a problem.

Lots of pages of instruction on the forum.

I did all four of mine over a couple of very rainy days, and hadn't had anything to do with wheel bearings since I rebuilt pushbikes when I was a kid.

Cheers
Simon

[harro]

I,ve got a slight movement on all four wheels on my Defender, done about 170,000, and I had intended to tighten the hub nut etc and was looking for a cheap (ish) hub spanner.

However I have been told that I should renew the bearings on all four wheels to be on the safe side, from what i can tell they havnt been changed since the truck was new (94). the cost quoted was around $800 inc. labour.

what I would like is some oppinions as to:
A/ would you go ahead and tighten the nuts?

B/ is it the sort of average kind of job that can be tackled in the drive over a weekend etc

C/ does that quote sound OK? the mechanic that made it comes across as being a pretty genuine guy.
I havn't had any work done on the landy since I bought it a couple of years ago, I do all the oils, lubes, brakes filters etc myself and will be fitting new front shoks in the next week or so, so I dont really have a problem with getting the bearings done by a pro it's just that I like to do whatever work I can on it myself.

any comments by you more experianced home mechanics would be appretiated.

Yes on A and B it's not that big a job and while you are there repack them.
I have tweaked the nuts on my 110 ute a few times.
Tighten them till resistance is felt and then back off quarter of a turn usually does it.
You will know if a bearing is stuffed. the sound isn't good (grinding).

[Blknight.aus]

with that many ks on em change em and replace the seals while your at it.

as a general rule I'll tighten at 50K Km, replace at 100K Km and then rotate the old bearings to the spares shelf then turf the sparies on the shelf.

with that many ks on its also worth measuring the Rotors and pads. as if the bearings have been going for some time you might have some unexpected wear there.

[p38arover]

And while you're at it, convert to oil fed bearings (if you don't have them).

[PAT303]

They should not be worn out,they just need adjustment.Oil fed are the best,renew the hub seal with an oil one and your all go. Pat

[kowari]

Thanks for those replies everyone, I am leaning towards doing them myself.

the rotors are in fact worn, though not unevenly, just worn through use before the slight movement on the wheel came about. When I first got the landy I replaced the brake pads and I remember there being no movement in the wheel then( that was a great move, putting discs all round on the later 200tdi's);)