Jim Grant's Tech Tips
'95 Chrysler Sebring, Biodegradable Wheel Bearings and Rotors
Q:
I
own a ‘95 Chrysler Sebring Coupe LX, with disc brakes. I seem to
be going through wheel bearings like there is no tomorrow. I just had
the passenger side replaced in November and now both front ones are gone.
Did I buy a vehicle that was in a serious accident? I religiously get
it adjusted for alignment every 4-6 months. Is the frame twisted? Why
do my wheel rotors keep warping? I live in the city, is it my driving
style? I do not ride the brakes, I just drive like a sane man. I just
had the rotors and pads replaced last January and now the 'ol pulsation
is back. There is no ABS on this car. Please help me with this Lemon,
parts are not cheap!
A:
First I think you’re wasting money. Why? An alignment
every 4 to 6 months is a little too religious for me. I would not suggest
alignments that often unless the vehicle was operating under conditions
that required it. Wheel bearings, once in a great while we’ll have
a problem, but nothing to the extent that you’re describing. The
wheel bearing in your vehicle has an axle that passes through with a large
nut to secure it. The quickest way to shorten a wheel bearing’s life
is to tighten that axle nut with an air tool. Hand tightening and torquing
is the only way to perform the job. The impacting action of the air wrench
will chip the bearing to roller surface. In a short time the chips turn
into chunks and the wheel bearing is ready for recycling. If the same
air tool is being used to tighten the lug/wheel nuts, then the brake rotors
will quickly pass away to pulsation. The short of it? Too many problems
with the same product? Question the installation.
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