Okay, so when Iwent to have tires put on my car (Focus), the guy said I have a bearing that's sticking. He also said 300 bucks to fix it. So I came home andchecked the trusty Haynes manual and it pretty much says I have to take the whole front end apart to fix it. I know it's one of those things that gets worse with time, but right now it's not affecting driveability too much and there's no noise coming from it yet. But I like to have everything working properly, so, the question is, do it myself, or have it done?

 

drive it until it starts to smoke or trade it in for a real Ford...just my opinion.

 

Wheel bearing or axle bearing? What year is the Focus? I have a Ford shop manual on CD for the 2000 Focus somewhere around here (shouldn't be any different from any other pre-2005 Focus that isn't an SVT). I can try to burn you a copy if I can find it.

Also check out Ford Focus Forum, News, Discussion and Chat, register, and post up your question or search for your answer in the "Team Tech" forum. There are a couple Ford tech's that could probably help you out with a DIY project.

 

FBP, I would get a "real ford" but I'm a 17 year old high school student who's struggling to pay the insurance already. And Alan, it's the right wheel bearing. The year is 2003, and its not any different than the other pre-2005 model years.

 

Does you High School have an auto shop program. If so, they are always looking for cars for the students to work on. Normaly you pay for the parts and get free labor. Just an idea. If it's ok now, you got sometime to think about it!

 

+1 on mave...I go to bloomingdale and we have an auto shop...we do a ton of teachers cars who done want to pay the big bucks...I dont know about other schools but you have to pay a 5 dollar shop fee and just bring the parts...its actually pretty good if you low on money

 

every wheel bearing that went bad in my cars have always started squeeking. if its not making noise, he trying to rip you off.

 

Yup. I've had two bad rear wheel bearings and a shot right front axel bearing on my prior Foci....both made ungodly noise at speed.

My suggestion is jack the front of the car up (both wheels off the ground) while the car is not in gear. Try moving them by hand to see if you hear anything besides the friction of the pad against the rotor. Also check to see if the wheel has any unecessary play (i.e. it feels loose as if it weren't bolted all the way down).