Anybody experienced a front wheel bearing failure on a 940? What symptoms did you encounter? Noise, vibration???
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See the 700/900 FAQ at the drop-down menu above right.

Dear Steve,

May this find You well. I've not had a failure, of the progressive sort. A road hazard - a paving step 3" tall, facing traffic - dealt the front end so hard a blow, that I got the paving company's insurer to pay for re-building the entire front end (except for the rack and control arms).

Thus, strut housings, struts, ball joints, tie rods, and hubs were replaced. I had a chance to examine the hubs. The impact was so severe, it left radial marks on the bearing races, where ball surfaces made contact, under impact. I note that bearing steel is very hard.

The hubs are very stoutly made. However,I'd not await the development of serious slop in the bearing. A failing bearing will start to "sing". The noise will get worse with speed and wear. Ultimately it will become a shriek.

If the stub axle goes out-of-round, as the bearing bounces loosely around it, you'll have to replace the strut housing. These cost $420-450 each (dealer). Hubs are about $150; less with an aftermarket version. You will also need a new axle nut (about $10) and a 36mm stocket, to remove/install. The torque spec is 74 pound/feet + 45 degree angle tighten.

Hope this helps.

Yours faithfully,

Spook

I've never had a front wheel bearing failure on a 700/900 with the late style hubs. I can tell you the harder you load the bearing, the greater the noise of a failing bearing will be. If you turn to the left, the right front bearing will be loaded higher, and it will make lots more noise, and vice versa. They can run a long time making noise you can't stand.
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john

wheel bearings in my experience once they "fail" are unmistakable. the friction from their disintegration so dramatically increases you will get grinding horrible sounds and if left alone for not much time will render the car un driveable and can even cause the hub to fail catastrophically.

look for to start

uneven tire wear
jack up the front end and hold the tire at 3 and 9 o clock and feel for play
if there is any your bearing are loose
a humming can heard as they begin to fail
progressing to louder and louder sound

I have an 88 740 and there is a steady bang at a frequency linear with vehicle speed. The noise is coming from the right side and I too was wondering what early sounds a failing bearing would produce. I know someone ran over a curb on the right side and I think it might be a damaged outer race with spalling at the point of impact. That would explain the steady bang with vehicle speed. It's been making this noise for at least 5000 miles and hasn't gotten any worse but I don't know for sure that it's the bearing.. I haven't checked for play but I should probably make that my next step....

I had one to fail on a 93 model 940, and the symptoms were preety basic as far as a wheel bearing failure.

Whoomp...Whoomp.....Whoomp....as the tire rotates, with noticeable increase and decrease in volume as the steering wheel is turned.
Starting out not so loud, with increase in volume as the bearing heats up.

Those were my symptoms.

steve