New Wheel Bearings? Yea or Nay

[jonp]

Pretty much done replacing the suspension on my CRV. The new CV shafts came yesterday so thats about it except for the bearings. What is the opinion on those? Replace since ive done everything else as a preventive measure or wait till i hear or see something. The vehicle is approching 160,000 miles

[JSnover]

If you are lucky enough to have the time, the money, and the skills all at the same time, I'd say do it now.
I have never owned a CRV but my '87 Blazer and my 2000 Explorer both needed front bearings between 175-200K.

[Lloyd Smale]

160k on them id replace them without a doubt

[Houndog]

Since you will have the spindles loose to replace the CV shafts I'd replace the wheel bearings! You will be 1/2 way there already. It's a no brainer as far as I'm concerned.

[starnbar]

Yeah that's a lot of miles and every time I didn't do a complete change out on something guess what? You answered your own question by asking and you know the answer to that one.

[bullet maker 57]

Change them. Cheap insurance.

[MrWolf]

You just jinxed yourself. Change them.

[w5pv]

Make sure you lube the inner needle bearings.

[PaulG67]

Absolutely replace them. I would replace brake pads and discs while your there also.

[osteodoc08]

Replace them.

[runfiverun]

with 160-K on it I'd replace them and be done with it.
then start saving up for the next thing, or the next vehicle.

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

with 160-K on it I'd replace them and be done with it.
then start saving up for the next thing, or the next vehicle.

160K....that's just broke in.
The last car I bought (Toyota Matrix) had 220K on it...a year and a half later, it's at 235K.

I, myself, wouldn't spend the money on new 'unneeded' wheel bearings for a Honda or Toyota...they'll probably outlast the car.
that's just my 2¢
YMMV

[starmac]

I would probably replace them while I was right there, at the very least give them a close inspection. Bearings are cheap enough, BUT some vehicles now you have to change the hub, instead of the bearings as the race is built in, that sometimes starts running into some bucks, if that happens to be the case.

[NSB]

Your Honda CRV bearings will last a long time yet. I don't believe there is any maintenance process for these bearings as they are sealed. It's pretty rare for any Honda model produced since the early 90s to need bearings before the car is completely worn out. I think you're good for another hundred thousand miles yet.
FWIW: I worked as a quality engineer for 33 years G.M., five years as a quality manager for Ford/Visteon, I retired and I'm on my third Honda. I can't wear one out. Tell you anything?

[runfiverun]

y'all must have nice paved roads where you drive.

[DougGuy]

With new CV axles the front end will be a LOT quieter. If you have any bearing noise it will be easy to detect. I would leave the factory bearings until you hear a noise. They just might outlast the rest of the car.

[NSB]

y'all must have nice paved roads where you drive.

I live in the pot hole capitol of the world.

[DerekP Houston]

My last job I drove a ton of miles so I've been in the proactive maintenance category so I didn't get stranded on the side of the road. I would go ahead and swap em just for peace of mind. If it were me every time I heard a noise I'd be betting "man I should've swapped those, i bet thats what the noise is."

[jonp]

I would probably replace them while I was right there, at the very least give them a close inspection. Bearings are cheap enough, BUT some vehicles now you have to change the hub, instead of the bearings as the race is built in, that sometimes starts running into some bucks, if that happens to be the case.

the front are just bearings and the rears are the hub and both are sealed. Both cost about $25/pair on ebay so the cost is easy enough. The motor mounts I'm wrestling with right now suck. There is always that one bolt you can't reach except with a $129 tool made just for it

I prefer the none sealed kind you can pull and pack grease around. My Toyota Tacoma had those. Once a year I pulled them and took a look just for fun. Only took a few minutes

[Hickory]

Better safe, than sorry would apply here.