I had my LR wheel bearing replaced about 4-5 months ago and then started getting a weird noise under braking, followed by a clunk, then a feeling that something just wasn't right on the suspension. Jacked the car up and did the 'shake the tire and feel for bearing play' test and the LR bearing was just as bad as it was before being changed. No other suspension parts were loose, so I sent it back to the shop that changed it (12/12 warranty on parts & labor-woohoo).

They called once it was disassembled and said that the hub (part that the wheel bolts to) was worn/ had a groove in it. The local dealer didn't stock the part, so I found a good used one and had it installed.

Anyone seen these as a common failure item???

 

NO, scenario like yours is the only way the hub can wearout. Of course the shop should have caught that the 1st time.

 

I picked up a complete LR hub/ bearing/ carrier assembly with the ebrakes for $90 from a 56k mile 2002 on Ebay. I wish that had been there when the bearing went out originally, I would have just swapped the whole thing myself and been done with it. What do you mean by "that's the only way the hub can wear out"?

 

The hub just spins with the bearing without chance for wear in normal operation, practically friction free. Once the bearing is excessively worn it allows excessive movement of the hub, causing it to wear.

 

gotcha, probably what caused the new bearing to go so quickly.