06 Mega with bad front wheel bearings at 66K

[Ben S]

Glad I had the extended warranty.



Had the tires rotated after 5K since installation and the shop that did the rotation told me both my front wheel bearings were going bad. The mechanic then added "typical of most Dodges". he also told me it would be a $600 job.



So I took it to my local Dodge dealer and had them check it... sure enough both were going bad. Replaced under warranty minus a $100 deductible.



Thought that a bearing failure this soon, 66. 7 k, was unusual but figure I'm good for a while now. At least until I can convince the wife I need an 11 HO Cummins Ram... :-laf .



They also fixed my radio toggle buttons on the back of my steering wheel at no charge as I'm always fiddling with the radio.



Anyone else had the front bearings go bad this soon?? Truck is a daily driver with occasional towing

 

[AH64ID]

Its hit and miss, some go bad that soon or sooner and some last a lot longer.



I am surpised they replaced them under warranty, thats a wear item.



Many folks, since they have to pay, end up doing a free-spin conversion vs going back with the OEM sealed bearings.

 

[BLoging]

i have a 2004 dodge ram 2500 4x4 with 66. 4K mile's and my driver's side is shot, the free spin from dyna trac is on back order right now. and both u joint's are shot too on the front

 

[Schumacher]

The bearings on my 07. 5 where also replaced under warranty at about 60k. The next time they go out, I'm going with a free-spin convertion. I just can't deside which one.

 

[JFought]

mine @ 60K as well

 

[wcjp]

Mine went at 90k. Replaced with stock for now.

 

[HBarlow]

I'm surprised. The sealed front wheel bearings on my '01 and '06 both lasted for over 200,000 miles. My trucks are always 2wd, don't know if the wheel bearings are different. My current C&C has just under 97k and front wheel bearings are still fine.

 

[NavyDood]

Glad I had the extended warranty.

Had the tires rotated after 5K since installation and the shop that did the rotation told me both my front wheel bearings were going bad. The mechanic then added "typical of most Dodges". he also told me it would be a $600 job.

So I took it to my local Dodge dealer and had them check it... sure enough both were going bad. Replaced under warranty minus a $100 deductible.

Thought that a bearing failure this soon, 66. 7 k, was unusual but figure I'm good for a while now. At least until I can convince the wife I need an 11 HO Cummins Ram... :-laf .

They also fixed my radio toggle buttons on the back of my steering wheel at no charge as I'm always fiddling with the radio.

Anyone else had the front bearings go bad this soon?? Truck is a daily driver with occasional towing

Front axles are the same on the 2011 as they are on your 2006. So unless they made a design change to the bearing itself, the front bearings are the same.

 

[TCDiesel]

The only Way to increase the life of the front unitized bearings is to grease them, Install New bearings, Wait 10k, pull the caliper bracket and remove ABS sensor or Plug, generally each hub will take 50 pomps the 1st time,after that grease every 40/50k,You will need to make a hose to fit grease gun,USE HI-TEMP GREASE ONLY,good stuff.

 

[Ben S]

Front axles are the same on the 2011 as they are on your 2006. So unless they made a design change to the bearing itself, the front bearings are the same.

I was just looking for an angle to get a new truck.....

 

[JFought]

i greased my new ones 10k after replacement. It would o0nly, safely, take 10 pumps.

 

[TCDiesel]

i greased my new ones 10k after replacement. It would o0nly, safely, take 10 pumps.

DID you spin when Pumping?

 

[TAK]

Was this covered under the Cummins 7yr 100k warranty?

 

[MChrist]

How can you tell when your front bearings are bad??

 

[MA2LA]

its all to normal for these trucks. mine were done at about 60k and i just did them again at 170k . it all depends on how you drive them and where. I tend to drive mine like a sports car and also drive on crappy roads that beat the snot out of front ends.

 

[JFought]

yes i spun them. that all it would take

 

[MChrist]

So how DO you tell when the bearings are bad/going bad? Just spinning the tire also spins the front driveshaft/transfer case, so there is a lot of drag.

 

[MChrist]

I can't help but notice that a lot of these trucks are '06s. I googled " how to check wheel bearings on dodge ram" and this popped up:Dodge Recalls 86,000 Ram Trucks for Wheel Bearing Defects
Interesting...

 

[TCDiesel]

So how DO you tell when the bearings are bad/going bad? Just spinning the tire also spins the front driveshaft/transfer case, so there is a lot of drag.

Get your speed up to 25mph on level ground roll down all windows,listen for tone, hum, buzz, etc, then turn left/right quickly several times the noise will change pitch. Grease them through the ABS sensor Port 1/40-50k and they will last 200k. They will buzz then hum then growl, when they start to growl you have about 100 miles before they destroy themselves and lockup.

 

[Scooby]

I tried to add grease to mine through the ABS sensor port, but it was pretty full of bright alien-GREEN stuff! I'm assuming this was the factory grease? I did this at roughly 50K miles not long after I bought the truck (used)