I'm still confused about whl bearings on a '98

[search4aztlan]

I've been calling around to get prices on getting my wheel bearings repacked. For the rear:
Service guys have told me that the rears are not servicable since they are lubed internally by the Diff fluid. Others have told me they can be repacked. One Ford service guy told me they can do all four while another said they can't, but it can be my diff and that it can cost anywhere from $100 to $2000 and that I'd just have to bring it in. WTF!?


For the fronts:
I had a couple of service guys, including one from the Ford service dept tell me that the fronts are sealed but they may be re-packed. Two have told me that the hub assembly has to be replaced and that the front bearings can't be repacked.

History: I'm trying to quiet my car down. I hear humming from somewhere while driving and it's difficult to pin-point if it's from the rear or the front. It gets louder the faster I go. It's not terribly loud, but loud enough to have to raise the volume on the radio a couple of points compared to a month ago. I'm aware it can be the diff, but i'm working on a process of elimination. This weekend I plan on getting my wheels balanced.

Forgot to mention: '98GT Convertible, w/ 88,xxx miles and ~11,000 mile old tires.

 

[Outlaw97GT]

I can help ya!

The fronts are hub assembly's, and can't be regreased. price is from 100.00 to 150.00 each to replace.

The rears are axle bearings and are lubed by the gear oil in the rear-end. The price to replace them should be from 150.00 to 200.00 just for labor. If you havent changed gears yet, do it then. And replace all the rear-end bearings, axle, carries, pinion, new diff clutches ect. ect.

I just got my whole rear-end rebuilt a couple weeks ago, and It cost me 700.00 total parts/labor. And that included the new 4.10's, diff clutch kit, all bearings.

 

[DropTopPony]

What he said ^^^^
I had that humming sound a few years ago myself and it turned out to be the gears. Do you have a rear diif leak? or have you checked fluid level? My rear was leaking and my driveway was stone so i never even noticed. As i drove it got lower and lower until the gears weren't covered enough and started to hum. I had new gears, new diff, new axles installed since i was in there. So check your fluid.

 

[Mike97gt]

somebody said all the bearings can be repacked wow thats a rape joint. send the people you dont like to them