Hi all,
Just got an estimate from the Ford dealer to replace both front hub bearings on my 2003 (77,126 miles). The cost is $360 for 4.0 hours of labor and $402 for OE parts for a total of $762. They also stated that I have 10% left on the rear brakes and I was quoted $225 for 2.5 hours of labor and $80 for parts. The labor includes machining the rotors and lubing the caliper slides. They also mentioned that sometimes they need to replace the e-brake shoes and if they do that will run $180 for 2.0 hours of labor and $132 for parts for a total of $332 . Lastly, they recommend a brake flush and $90 for 1.0 of labor and $43 for parts for a total of $133.00. The grand total including tax is $1644.62 . For the record, I've mentioned the bearing noise to them over the last year and this is the first time they isolated the noise by using a stethoscope. Everything is tight underneath, it just sounds like driving on a flat tire. Any suggestions/thoughts? Thanks!

 

Well, they certainly pinpointed the cause. Very often noise travels and is hard to locate. I thought my front differential was bad, turned out it was the rear one.

I recently replaced my front hubs (complete assembly, w/ABS sensor) on my Explorer (pretty much identical to Mountaineer). I paid $180 for the pair of hubs (w/lifetime warranty) and my shop charged me $125 for putting them in, including pressing in new lower ball joints.

My mechanic said that there is an easy way to replace them, where you don't have to take the control arm out, that's why he was able to do it for that price. The chains I asked (Midas etc.), if they were able to to it at all (you need a special tool), quoted me about $500. And I'm not a fan of these chains anyway.

More than 70% of braking force is taken by the front brakes, so you might be able to save a little money here. But I wouldn't wait to long. If the pads come loose (because of thickness), you might damaged your rear hubs, and that will cost you. You have disc brakes in the rear, right? Heck, changing the pads is easy.

I paid around $150 for both rear brakes, including parking brakes. And yes, rotors are new too.

A brake flush? That sounds like a money maker. What do they want to flush out? The brake system is an enclosed system, so unless you are driving around with no cap on the brake fluid reservoir, nothing should be in there, so no need to flush. You can do that at the same time when you change your brake fluid.

These are not only my thoughts, but also experiences. Boy am I glad I finally found a good mechanic.

Greetings!

 

92 Mercury-Thanks for the information. Looks like I got a quote from the cleaners and not a dealer, or is that the same thing? I'll get some quotes from some independents for getting it done. I like how you got a lifetime warranty. The best I can get from the dealer is 12 months/12,000 miles. Thanks again.

 

just note, the lifetime warranty is for defects in materials and workmanship, and not for wear (usually - read the fine print).

 

I sold auto parts for many years and when they say "lifetime", it's just a way of saying you get one free replacement if and when they wear out.

 

It can be either way. Usually, lifetime warranty means free replacement whenever the part fails. You still have to pay labor, but who cares, the part is free.

I have not seen (or read in the smallprint) anything about replacement only for defects in material or workmanship so far. Besides, every manufacturer is liable for that for 6 months after purchase anyway.

Greetings!

 

Hey HarvardT, I think, it's OK, but here is an opinion. Take your unwanted posts and unrelated links and leave this forum FOREVER! I HATE SPAMMERS!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Got a price from an independent. It will run around $1300 for the bearings and the rear pads (and machine the rotors). I still thought this was high and was told that the bearings are $384 each (aftermarket), which is a lot more expensive than the OE parts from the Ford dealer. You would think the prices for parts would be more in line. I'll keep shopping since you all have seemed to gotten more reasonable pricing in the past. Thanks.

 

I don't know where you shop....

www.rockauto.com
www.partstrain.com

You will find out preeeetty quickly.

Greetings!

 

$384 each! Are they nuts? Maybe they are pricing out the whole hub assembly. That is an insane price for a bearing. Unless that is labor included then maybe it's a little more undrstandable.