Front Wheel Bearings-Easy DIY Task?

[Ampstar]

The wifes 1.9D o/s front wheel bearing has just started to make a noise-well, I suspect this is what it is-it is making a "thrumming" noise when going over 50mph. A search on here reveals the same noise indicates a bearing on the way out.

But how easy is it to change? Only do motorbike bearings (which are a PoP)-so how involved is it on a Clio? Would I be better getting a mechanic to do it, and how much labour time would it take? And anyone have a bearing number, so i can get it from a bearing supplier rather than Renault (I can save around 70% on bike bearings this way)?

Thanks

 

[donsrno1]

The bearing itself needs to be pressed in by a garage (unless you have the a press yourself) but if you remove the hub and take it to the garage along with the bearing they should do it for about £5. Removing the hub itself is fairly straightforward if your OK with a spanner in your hand. If you remove the hub yourself and take to a garage the whoel job can be done for about £20 but for a garage to do the whole job would cost about £70.

I'm not sure on the part number but I know that for my clio (1.4 RT) there were a couple of different sized bearings it could be as there are two different hubs for the same model - don't know if it's the same with the 1.9D. You can tell which hub you have by measuring the gap between the strut to hub bolts - they are either 52mm or 54mm.

Best to get it changed son as you can - mine was run too long on a dodgy bearing (I think that's what caused it as the bearing was gone when I got the car) and I ended up getting a new hub as the new bearing I put in went again after 1500 miles.

 

[Ampstar]

Thanks-same as my Golf then. Best I get a manual tomorrow and start stripping the hub off.

Thanks.

 

[edde]

You can get a second hand hub for £40 or so. I don't see any point trying to fix the old one.
So long as you don't have any rusty parts you can do th swop in under half an hour.

 

[Friction]

You can get a second hand hub for £40 or so. I don't see any point trying to fix the old one.
So long as you don't have any rusty parts you can do th swop in under half an hour.

you'd buy a second hand hub (new second hand bearing could only last a day for all anyone knows), instead of just replacing the bearing?

 

[donsrno1]

You can get a hub for £25 fairly easily but what's the point if you can replace the bearing in your current one for £20 anyway?

 

[edde]

you'd buy a second hand hub (new second hand bearing could only last a day for all anyone knows), instead of just replacing the bearing?

Personally I'd buy a whole new hub as its less risk/effort.
However Specialist Renault Breakers would probably offer you a 3 month warently on hubs anyway somehting a new bearing doesn't.