2 wheel bearings going bad within a month?

[clonzana]

2017 Yaris Hybrid - 37k miles.

A month or so ago, one of the rear bearings went bad. Horrible noise. Got it replaced, sorted.

I now notice that the same initial bad wheel bearing sounds are appearing again, "hopefully" from a different wheel this time.

A few weeks before the first bearing went bad, someone came onto the motorway from the slip road and almost took me out, in which I had to swerve at 65mph into the central reservation, to avoid a collision. My car swerved and skidded quite a bit and ended up in the middle of the motorway - thankfully, nobody injured and no collision.

It seems that the first bearing started to go bad shortly after this. Given that most bearings don't go bad with such low mileage, and having two bearings go bad within close succession, is it possible that this violent swerving / skidding could have turned at least a couple of the wheel bearings bad? It's driving me insane!

Other than that, no heavy pot hole damage or curb strikes, nor leaving the car in heavy water etc... I do 800 miles per week commute, but still, the bearings should be lasting much longer than this?

Thanks.

[TonyHSD]

Yeah, very likely the incident that you had can be the cause for the premature bearing failure. Check and see if it’s the new bearing or another one from the other side. Have you used an original or aftermarket replacement? If aftermarket best to buy top end brands like skf or blueprint. 

[Mojo1010]

It's possible, though no one will know for sure. Mine is 2016 ~ 51k miles no issue. 

Last weekend encountered a big pothole on a 40mph single carriageway. Daylight, road was very good then a big pothole appeared on the left side of the car, managed to swerved to the other side of the road - luckily opposite vehicles were very far away. Would have been 2 damaged tyres on one side and possible wheels damage also. 

[Guest]

I had a Yaris rear wheel bearing fail at less than 30k miles. Not really acceptable for an alleged reliable car. "Normal" driving, nothing excessive. Before anyone pipes up with other marques are no better, yes they are. Daughter has a Ford Focus, 90k miles, original everything except usual brakes, tyres etc.. During my ownership of many other cars, not one ever had a wheel bearing fail, even at high mileage.

Replaced both, by Blueprint hub assemblies, because as sure as night follows day, the other was more than likely to be of the same poor quality batch.

[flash22]

Junk Chinesium bearings

SKF or Blueprint if you want it to last

[clonzana]

1 minute ago, flash22 said:

Junk Chinesium bearings

SKF or Blueprint if you want it to last

Thankfully, the one I’ve already replaced is a Blueprint, so that’s good. 
 

are you saying that the original bearings are likely not as good as the Blueprint ones?

[TonyHSD]

My experience with bearings on my Auris. 
First full replacement all 4 corners in 2020 at 136k miles. They were fine but slightly whining at the rear, front I hit a large pothole, damaged the tyre and the wheel and decided to go full set with blueprint. 
First failure of the new blueprint was rear left at 187k miles, the damage was to the speed sensor inside plus the wire connector., the bearings itself was ok. Second failure was rear right hub happened a year later at 232k with exactly the same issue. Both times replaced with SKF. 
Front blueprint still ok after 105k miles covered. I hope they will last me a bit longer. 👍

[flash22]

The rear bearings on the yaris hybrid can be a pain to source as they run a different abs sensor as the rest of the yaris range, the aftermarket is full of junk these days

[Derek.w]

Do you think it down to pot holes in the road?.

[TonyHSD]

29 minutes ago, Derek.w said:

Do you think it down to pot holes in the road?.

Potholes, kerbs anything sharp that you hit with the wheels or overload weight can cause premature wear on the bearings plus going through deep water regularly too. 

[clonzana]

1 minute ago, TonyHSD said:

Potholes, kerbs anything sharp that you hit with the wheels or overload weight can cause premature wear on the bearings plus going through deep water regularly too. 

Thanks Tony. So, on the grand scheme of things, other than typical things like tyres and brakes, are wheel bearing replacements relatively common? This is the first “proper” work I’ve needed on the Yaris so just hoping that it’s not going to be a regular occurrence. What other things commonly go wrong?

[TonyHSD]

10 minutes ago, clonzana said:

Thanks Tony. So, on the grand scheme of things, other than typical things like tyres and brakes, are wheel bearing replacements relatively common? This is the first “proper” work I’ve needed on the Yaris so just hoping that it’s not going to be a regular occurrence. What other things commonly go wrong?

Hi Sam, 

I have only spoken about wheel bearings as general rule and common things with the bigger Toyota models. I have no experience particularly with Yaris and can’t comment on this matter. However both cars are similar and both Toyota therefore they might be similar in terms of reliability and maintenance. 
If we take into account this above, my Auris hybrid only ever needed wheel bearings, full set of brakes because of rust , not wear and rear springs. A timing chain tensioner and only regular service now almost 13 years and 244k  miles. I think the Toyota hybrids are good cars. 

[bathtub tom]

1 hour ago, TonyHSD said:

my Auris hybrid only ever needed wheel bearings, full set of brakes because of rust , not wear and rear springs. A timing chain tensioner and only regular service now almost 13 years and 244k  miles. I think the Toyota hybrids are good cars. 

I'm impressed.

[Cyker]

It's definitely not normal - Toyota wheel bearings are considered some of the best.

Both my Mk1 D4Ds were over 100k miles and never needed new wheel bearings, and they were subjected to all of London's lovely speed cushions, humps, potholes, kerbs etc..

Even the PoS Mk2 I had, with all its problems, wheel bearings were not one of them.

Many others here have run their cars over 100k or even 200k on the original bearings.

I can't recall many posts about new wheel bearings being required due to wear, it's always been due to some other problem, usually corrosion due to environment or some sort of accident damage.

That said, with newer models having increasingly ludicrously low profile tyres, I do suspect that is shortening the lives of the bearings as they are subjected to a lot sharper shocks without the cushioning effect of more tyre sidewall.

I've hit so many pot holes lately (You can't dodge 'em all!) but have been fine with the 185/65r15s I changed to so far, while my Auris-owning colleague with his 215/45r17s has just had to replace 2 brand new tyres due to pothole damage! (He's trying to file a claim with the responsible council, but I don't fancy his chances...)

 

[Derek.w]

Another problem to course any bearing to fail soon after replacment is its inner or outer corosponding part is worn because the bearing has turned after seizing & so mating part or parts are worn.

[Guest]

23 hours ago, flash22 said:

Junk Chinesium bearings

SKF or Blueprint if you want it to last

The bearing I had fail was original factory fit. Surely Toyota don't use Chinesium tat?

The failed bearing was NSK who have a manufacturing facility in N.E. England. I have seen boxed hubs, genuine, with "Made in U.K." on the label. Sadly not a sign of quality any more.🙄

[flash22]

6 minutes ago, olonas said:

The bearing I had fail was original factory fit. Surely Toyota don't use Chinesium tat?

The failed bearing was NSK who have a manufacturing facility in N.E. England. I have seen boxed hubs, genuine, with "Made in U.K." on the label.

There have been issues with rear bearings failing prematurely

11 hours ago, Derek.w said:

Another problem to course any bearing to fail soon after replacment is its inner or outer corosponding part is worn because the bearing has turned after seizing & so mating part or parts are worn.

these are complete hub assemblies from the factory, it only takes the bearing or hub machining to be slightly off spec or assembled incorrectly for it to fail

the bearings also have the magnetic ring for the ABS pickup it them too what can be fragile

 

 

[Derek.w]

The shaft it sits on if it showing a slight grove from the bearing turning on the shaft.

IE. its now a slack fit on the shaft.

[clonzana]

Just as a quick follow up, I received the wheel bearing back that had gone bad. It was overwhelmingly rusted - looked about 100 years old even though it’s a 2017 with less than 40k miles. Does this make corrosion sound more possible for the cause of it going bad?

 

there was the heavy snow in February which I had to drive through to and from work (800 miles a week). Wonder if that made a difference 

[Derek.w]

yes its possible if the rust made it past the grease seal what do you feel if you rotate it with your finger inside and your other hand holding the outer edge.

Is it feeling lumpy unsmoove in rotating indicating a bad bearing.

You can also use a buffing mop to run the bearing up to a higher speed but I guess you dont have any kit to try this out.

[geoffjbaker]

Well I have a 2017 Petrol Yaris. First rear wheel bearing started to go at about the six year mark. About 35k miles. A couple of thousand more and the other has had to be replaced at less than 40k.

Car is garaged overnight and given the mileage you might guess it also spends most days there too!

Distinctly unimpressed. Had a Clio and an S40 which I did over 100k miles with no wheel bearing issues. The S40 was also 6 years old when I brought it and already had 30k on the clock.

Not likely to be in the market for another car but would think twice given my experience of Toyota reliability.

[bathtub tom]

Toyota don't make the bearings, they buy them in the same as every other car manufacturer.

[Guest]

I'm generally (overly) distrustful of mechanics and workshops than most... but for good reason, when I drove my mums 2004 Corsa back in late 2014, it needed a new wheel bearing.  Funnily enough, within a few weeks the other side needed done.  In that case, the mechanic had swapped them. We know because they were fixed by two different mechanics (one who did the first job) and the second who looked at both and confirmed that he either fitted a used bearing or swapped them around with the intention of lining up the job of doing the other with the excuse 'they tend to go at the same time'.. 😕  Wouldn't like to think that was the case with yours. A bad shock might contribute to prematurely wearing out but surely not on both sides? 

 

5 hours ago, bathtub tom said:

Toyota don't make the bearings, they buy them in the same as every other car manufacturer.

That's true, as with a lot of the components. Although they tend to be major investors in a lot of the component suppliers..  But you can be certain that what Toyota fits from the factory in terms of quality control and engineering is second to none in the car industry.  All part brands (even the respected ones with good reputations) are on their best behaviour when supplying to the likes of Toyota for new car factories.  Not only have they their own quality control but also Toyota's scrutiny and a healthy fear of losing the contract if deemed not well made. You bet they put their top batches for the factories over what we find in the auto factors..  

I learnt this the hard way.  Sure, a new Porsche or Range Rover with factory standard 'Brembo' brakes are impressive and precision made and perform the part. Go to your local motor factors however, and quote your <any model Toyota or similar everyday car> and ask for the Brembo parts, chances are you'll get discs and pads that are authentic Brembo parts, but built to the same bare minimum specs as your no-name generic auto factors parts with the same minimum compliance quality and performance characteristics.  Unless you opt for 'MAX' or 'XTRA' line you won't get anything special.  

I tell people this a lot when they question why I buy Toyota oil or bulbs when "Castrol is just as good and cheaper", or "Phillips make them better than Toyota" .. 

[Mojo1010]

38 minutes ago, SB1500 said:

I'm generally (overly) distrustful of mechanics and workshops than most... but for good reason, when I drove my mums 2004 Corsa back in late 2014, it needed a new wheel bearing.  Funnily enough, within a few weeks the other side needed done.  In that case, the mechanic had swapped them. We know because they were fixed by two different mechanics (one who did the first job) and the second who looked at both and confirmed that he either fitted a used bearing or swapped them around with the intention of lining up the job of doing the other with the excuse 'they tend to go at the same time'.. 😕

Goodness that is shocking! Did you question the first mechanic regarding at least why the used bearing? 

[Guest]

10 minutes ago, Mojo1010 said:

Goodness that is shocking! Did you question the first mechanic regarding at least why the used bearing? 

Back then I was 18 and very much driving 'my mums car', so things like that I was never really involved in other than being there when dropping off / picking it up.   She never had a go-to mechanic as such because most around our parts (including the liar) are the sort where they're hard to get by phone, working from their back yard / shed and sometimes too busy so she'd go with whoever recommended one.  This was a guy my sister knew, lived in her estate and had a side garage. Think he worked at a big bodyshop around here and fixed cars at home on the side. so she took it to him that time for no real other than my sister recommending him when the topic of the rev-like sound being back after getting it fixed the first time