Rear Wheel Bearing On 99 996 C4

[Speedobird]

Hi, Does anyone have experience working with the rear wheel bearings on 996? I would much appreciate any insight that I can get before jumping into this project.

I have just replaced the front wheel bearings that were causing grinding noise (much like road noise). Now it is much better but I still hear some from the rear. This leads me to think that I need to replace the rear wheel bearings (I've also been annoyed by occasional "clunking" noise too). According to the official service manual, the procedure seems similar except that it now talks about hub extractor with a big circular plate with five bolts that go into the rug nut holes on the disc/hub. It also talks about drive shaft removal etc. which I didn't have to deal with before.

Because I had a very challenging front wheel bearings I'm getting a bit apprehensive. Appreciate any experience you can share with me.

Thank you in advance,

[Dharn55]

This was done to my car years ago under the original warranty. The dealer said they had to remove the wheel carrier and press the bearing out. I think the total labor and materials was close to $2,000, but it was under warranty. I will try to find the invoice.

[Dharn55]

Found it. The labor breakdown was as follows; This was for both sides

Rear Wheel Bearing R&R 1.4 hrs

Wheel bearing housing R&R 2.9 hrs

Rear Brakes R&R 2.3 hrs.

Bleed Brakes .6 hours

Front & Rear check alignment 1 hr.

Front & rear Adjust alignment .9 hrs.

Parts 2 bearings 999.053.050.00, 2 nuts 999.500.092.00

So a total of 9.1 hrs "shop time" at the 2003 labor rate of $119/hr. I think the dealer is $169/hr. now.

So not $2,000, but pretty expensive, loved that warranty.

[Speedobird]

Found it. The labor breakdown was as follows; This was for both sides

Rear Wheel Bearing R&R 1.4 hrs

Wheel bearing housing R&R 2.9 hrs

Rear Brakes R&R 2.3 hrs.

Bleed Brakes .6 hours

Front & Rear check alignment 1 hr.

Front & rear Adjust alignment .9 hrs.

Parts 2 bearings 999.053.050.00, 2 nuts 999.500.092.00

So a total of 9.1 hrs "shop time" at the 2003 labor rate of $119/hr. I think the dealer is $169/hr. now.

So not $2,000, but pretty expensive, loved that warranty.

The hours for R&R sounds about similar to what I spent on the front bearings. May be it is not much different after all. Thank you very much.

[PTEC]

I would expect to pay about 5 hours for one rear wheel bearing. They are quite a bit more difficult as the parking brake mechanism has to be removed, which is quite a PITA. The entire wheel carrier is removed and the bearing is pressed out. If the repair is done as per the factory manual, no alignment is technically necessary as none of the eccentric bolts are touched. Also the brake lines do not need to be opened so I wouldn't pay for a brake system bleed either.

Edited June 18, 2010 by PTEC

[Speedobird]

I would expect to pay about 5 hours for one rear wheel bearing. They are quite a bit more difficult as the parking brake mechanism has to be removed, which is quite a PITA. The entire wheel carrier is removed and the bearing is pressed out. If the repair is done as per the factory manual, no alignment is technically necessary as none of the eccentric bolts are touched. Also the brake lines do not need to be opened so I wouldn't pay for a brake system bleed either.

Thanks PTEC. I read that you have to release the cable in the center console for the parking brake mechanism. Is there more to it that you know?