Wheel Bearings

Nuggy
Nuggy Forum Participant Posts: 512
edited January 2017 in Caravans #1

Just had my caravan serviced, the mechanic found that the nearside wheel bearing was in a poor condition and needed replacing. When I gave him the go ahead to fit a new one I asked about the offside one. He said that one was fine. His opinion was that the nearside wheel gets so much hammer from grids, potholes etc that this is a common situation. Food for thought.

Comments

  • Wildwood
    Wildwood Club Member Posts: 3,585 ✭
    1000 Comments 250 Likes Photogenic
    edited January 2017 #2

    It is possibly right although I would tend to replace both to get a better balance.

    I do know an investigation into punctures confirmed that the nearside tyres have roughly twice as many the offside, presumably down to a similar problem and the nearside suspension of a car is more vulnerable to failure than the offside.

  • commeyras
    commeyras Club Member Posts: 1,853 ✭✭✭
    1000 Comments
    edited January 2017 #3

    I'm not a mechanic but once I had the near side wheel bearing go.  I only replaced this one and had no problems with it or the older one.

  • EJB986
    EJB986 Forum Participant Posts: 1,153
    1000 Comments
    edited January 2017 #4

    On my MH the nearside (UK) front bearing went in France  2 years ago.

    I only replaced the one as it cost 700 Euro!

    The offside one is still OK!wink

  • Nuggy
    Nuggy Forum Participant Posts: 512
    edited January 2017 #5

    I was a bit pushed when the mechanic phoned me with the news, I was stuck in a supermarket with a lot of noise so just said "go ahead and replace it". Later after collection I did wonder if I should have asked him to do both, too late now. Hopefully the offside will be ok until the next service. I was relieved that it was found during a service and didn't go when towing down a motorway. I would have been in a mess if that had happened. Any more comments or experiences?

  • commeyras
    commeyras Club Member Posts: 1,853 ✭✭✭
    1000 Comments
    edited January 2017 #6

    Crickey - 700 euros!!  Further to my earlier posts.  I was living in France at the time - so no breakdown insurance - and it was about 10 years ago, I had a Fleetwood Colchester.  I was near Briancon when the bearing went.  The site manager arranged for a local garage to come out.  They removed wheel and placed a support under the caravan.  Took the offending bearing away.  A few days later returned with new bearing and fitted it.  Cost 70 euros!

  • Impy
    Impy Forum Participant Posts: 257
    edited January 2017 #7

    Last year when our caravan was being serviced it was found that our nearside wheel bearing needed replacing, the service engineers knew that we were off to North Wales the following week so they replaced it and we were so glad that they found "that problem".

  • EJB986
    EJB986 Forum Participant Posts: 1,153
    1000 Comments
    edited January 2017 #8

    My 700 Euro was the fairly standard, international price for a Ducato base vehicle...not a caravan.(MH).

    There are many horror stories of broken presses when removing the old bearings!

    I only mentioned it as it was the nearside (UK) bearing.

Categories