2008 Saturn Vue wheel bearings

[DFR]

I have a front wheel bearing gone in my Vue. It has 50 K miles on it. Has anyone had similar issues and if so was it being a toad suspected of being the cause?

[DriVer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by DFR I have a front wheel bearing gone in my Vue. It has 50 K miles on it. Has anyone had similar issues and if so was it being a toad suspected of being the cause?

I have a 2008 Vue XE and I have not had any problems along those lines.

I just turned 3 years and 36,000 miles almost at the same time. My bumper to bumper warranty is over. Still have 2 more to go for the powertrain.

[bluepill]

Just speaking to a couple of auto mechanics today about business in general. They mentioned that is has been good, and that front wheel bearings on front drive cars have become a new best seller at their shop. Their take on it is that sourcing for these parts has gone to (where else?) China in recent years.

Make sure that it's not your tires that are making noise. Run your hands over the tire tread to check for uneven wear.

Usually front bearings will make a "droning" noise that varies with speed - most noticeable at 35 to 55 MPH - and often the noise comes and goes as you steer to the left and then to the right on straight smooth flat roads.

Get two or three opinions before committing to the job.

[Wayne M]

My '07 Vue needed a wheel bearing with 35,000 miles on it. Only 3000 of hat was as a TOAD. I thought I had heard something before we started out towing, but my hearing is not the best anymore. I agree with the post that Saturn WB's are not the greatest.

[DFR]

There is no doubt that it's a bearing. My concern is if towing it causes the stresses to "tear" the bearings up every 50k miles, a change may be in order. If there is a common theme on FWD vehicles due to cheap parts, then that is a different story. What irritates me is that with no advance warning it is now at the point where I cannot drive it to the nearest service center 165 miles away. It must be trailered.