2001 DRV 3500 5.9L

i bought my van 5 years ago with 68K verified miles but no maintenance records or any other way of knowing what work had been done on the van. Now, 40K miles later I’m catching up on repairs and routine maintenance the plan being to do the things now needed to keep running good for about another 20K miles. That’s just a plan.

Over the last 2 years 3 times one or both of my front wheels would overheat very badly. Further driving would be impossible because of front brake drag. After an hour or so things would cool down enough to drive. I replaced the soft rubber lines but it happened again like 8 months later one wheel getting really hot- I smelled it before I felt the brake drag. I cleaned up the caliper pistons a bit and it happened again. Replacing the calipers has solved the problem.

But I wonder how the extreme heat might have affected the bearings. There’s still grease visible under the cap and no bad bearing symptoms from what may or may not be the original bearings.

So back to my “plan”- another 20K miles. I know I could just wait until symptoms pop up and handle it then but circumstances are that I have the $400 my mechanic wants now but money may be tighter for me in the future. And I could be “boon-docking” in the future and not close to a decent mechanic.

I know the circumstances are a bit odd. They have to do with settling a work comp case after which money will be tight. But just off the top of your head with much more experience than I have what would you do? I have the $400 now but if the chances were good, say 80% or better that the bearing should be OK I’d spend it elsewhere, like solar panels on top of the van. If it were 50/50 I’d replace the bearings now.

I know I should just decide but I’m right on the fence and your advice based on knowledge of these bearings would be appreciated. I guess it’s so I have a little peace of mind either way I go.

thanks in advance.

 

At 99k miles in my 1998 DRV 3500 5.9L, I overheated the brakes coming down the hill from Sequoia Natl Park, as I naively drove down the hill like I was driving a Honda Civic and neglected to even downshift the trans. For what seemed like an hour, the wheels and hubs were so hot, water sprayed on would steam off immediately.

For that reason, I decided to change the wheel bearings and races. Let me tell ya. The bearings and races were fine. Like new. No bluing, or other signs of overheating.

Normally when a mechanic regreases bearings, they're inspected for signs of failure. Regreasing IS a part of scheduled maintenance. I'd have them regreased and only changed if they show signs of damage or excessive wear.

 

That's what's so cool about this site. Regreasing is the perfect solution for me taking the guesswork out saving all those miles wondering. I used to regrease my car bearings on schedule but I guess because these bearings come with the rotor attached I never considered that the bearings could still be packed. And if the front bearings are OK I'm going to feel fairly safe assuming the rear bearings are also OK.

Thanks

 

BTW, years ago I came down one of the steep mountain ranges in CA. I did downshift to slow things down. After making it up the steep side also downshifted on a real hot day I blew a water hose not going up but coming down because of the engine speed.

You might have had problems either way you drove down.

 

FWIW Ive taken my van over the Appalachians - everywhere from GA to NY and never had front wheel/brake overheating...

I have had the transmission get too hot - but not the front

 

I’ve been up and down other huge mountains since my hose blew with no problem. Well just one problem- people honking at me because I go so slow, like real slow.

In my twenty’s my “van” was a 1943 army truck I modified into a camper of sorts. They called them “deuce and a halfs”- 2 1/2 ton transport with 10 gears, 3 axles and 10 wheels. So young and dumb- the one thing I didn’t fix was the emergency brake. Coming down the same mountains in CA I picked up too much speed and the brakes weren’t gonna slow me on their own. You had to double clutch and rev the engine up to the right speed to downshift. An Angel had to have been with me on that ride.

 

I have the same van as you, I just purchased mine in January with 142k miles, I bought new bearings. At some point the bearings previously failed, and they let it go too long, and it caused hub damage. I ended up having to replace the entire front brake system, short of the lines. I rebuilt the caliper, with new pistons, but I should have just bought new calipers, the price difference was negligible.
I'd definitely inspect and repack the bearings at the very least, and inspect the inside of the hub at the same time. Give it a good cleaning and make sure there isn't any uneven wear inside.

 

You’ve made my decision easy. I just had the front brakes replaced- soft lines, calipers and discs. I didn’t know bad bearings could do that much damage and don’t want to risk it. If I’m gonna get the old bearings packed I’m gonna just put in the other $200 and just get this done with new ones.

I won’t have to feel like I may have wasted $400 with that kind of damage. Plus I can beat the tariffs on the parts!

thanks

 

If they turned the rotors, or replaced them... then your bearings are already re-packed.

 

Nope, the brake work was done in my drive w/no rotor work or replacement.
Thanks