Car help

[rh71]

I've been saying for weeks now that there's a rumble noise coming from the underbody of the '90 Accord. Meineke guy says exhaust and everything is fine... but just found that its got a bent right front axle... and it'll cost almost $400 after labor/parts for another axle + bearing.

He says it'll be a replacement axle (not brand new) because it costs $800 for a new one. My questions...

- see anything wrong with these figures? I just want verification.
- safe to drive for a little bit longer (few days of local driving until we can take it to our friend) ?
- rumble noise/feeling could be coming from a problem like this?

 

[zoiks]

Shouldnt have bought a honda.
I think this sort of problem happens in front wheel drive cars.

 

I charge $185 to replace an axle, including parts, you are getting burned.
Why are you replacing the wheel bearing ?

 

[rh71]

Originally posted by: Roger
I charge $185 to replace an axle, including parts, you are getting burned.
Why are you replacing the wheel bearing ?

His words to me were "they're no good" ... and "you have a bent right front axle"... I don't know for sure why the bearing needs to be replaced and that's why you're here. 🙂 I thought those two went hand-in-hand, but I guess not?

He broke down the prices to almost $200 for parts and the rest was labor charges... almost another $200.

 

A bad wheel bearing will manifest itself as a grumble and roughness, I doubt that the wheel bearing is gone unless the car has very high mileage.

 

[rh71]

Originally posted by: zoiks
Shouldnt have bought a honda.
I think this sort of problem happens in front wheel drive cars.

Bought it used from a friend when it was virtually problem-free... and it was a good deal for a college student (my fiance) back in '97.

 

[DurocShark]

It doesn't sound too outrageous. Might wanna shop around though... Sounds like a Motor guide price.

But a bent axle WOULD cause that rumble. And the wheel bearing is just something to replace while you're tearing into that anyway. Like replacing the clutch when you've got the engine or tranny out for something else. Just do it while you're in there...

EDIT: Oh, make sure they're doing an alignment after... Messing with the FWD front axles throws the alignment off...

 

[rh71]

Originally posted by: Roger
A bad wheel bearing will manifest itself as a grumble and roughness, I doubt that the wheel bearing is gone unless the car has very high mileage.

Almost 110k miles. There is a rumble noise when accelerating above 30mph and while coasting above that speed. Bearing/axle ?

 

[Quixfire]

If you were having a halfshaft and wheel bearing replaced, $290 is around the price I would have charged. But my question is how you bent your driveaxle? These are hardened steel, some hollow and some solid, and it would take a great amount of force to bend one. I have only seen this in accidents and abusive off-road driving. The noise you hear could be caused by bad wheel bearing, it makes a low rumbling noise, sometimes even growling.

 

But a bent axle WOULD cause that rumble. And the wheel bearing is just something to replace while you're tearing into that anyway. Like replacing the clutch when you've got the engine or tyranny out for something else. Just do it while you're in there...

Waste of money, if the bearing is fine, leave it alone, this is not like a throw out bearing replacement when the clutch is done.
Do you replace a tranny when replacing an engine ? No.

To test for a bad wheel bearing, do this ;

Drive the vehicle on a deserted road, get up to 25 M.P.H. and shut of the engine and put it in neutral and coast, listen for grumbling and roughness throughout the vehicle (Not just the steering wheel), if it is silent, the bearings are good.

Most likely the inner or outer Rzappa joint is worn, causing the axle to rotate out of center, making it look like it is bent.

 

[rh71]

How much should a bearing cost (with labor) if we did have to do it ? I'll do that test when we retrieve the car later.