I have a 2003 2500 4x4 and believe I a front bearing has gone kaput. I have 193,000 miles on this truck and the right front wheel is making noise and in the last couple of miles the tire is trying to lock up on me. I parked it and will diagnose tonight. The front pads and rotors were replaced about 20,000 miles ago.

Question; I drive 50-60,000 miles a year on this and am wondering what mileage improvements are realized with these free spin kits I see advertised. At the current mileage I would save about $500 dollars a year for every 1/2 mile per gallon gain. Not to mention the front universals would be spared a lot of miles.

Any advice or experience?

I see the cheap replacement unit bearings are $130 and the better replacements are $190-$290.

 

If you go with new unit bearings be sure to spend the extra money for good ones. Worth it in the long run.
I put cheaper ones in my Jeeps only to have them fail early.

I went with Timkens in my 2004 truck when they needed to be replaced.

 

Ordered the Spyntec kit from Spyntec. Cost $1550 + shipping. I will install a cheap $130 bearing from Autozone to get by for the week.
The salesman says I will get 2 mpg increase.............we shall see. At 50,000 miles per year @ 15 mpg and $3.80 a gallon that equals $12,666 in fuel.
If I get 1 mpg gain that equates to $11,875 and a 2 mpg gain would be $11,176 per year in fuel.
He also said the largest gains comes from trucks that do a lot of starting, stopping and turning (city driving) with as much as 3 mpg increase. All highway miles usually equates to 1 mpg increase.

 

2wd's don't have that problem

 

Replaced the right side bearing/hub asssembly with cheap replacement from Advanced Auto. Barely got the truck into the garage; it was trying to lock up the tire in the driveway.

Old bearing had no cracks, removed the dust seal and found grease inside but was of course very rough when spinning.

 

any body got a pic of this fix. mine is going out, got to replace it .o rilleys was$ 192 for the natinal brand . are they any count? . looking at $130 for labor not bad at all . more concerend with the quilty of the bearing . thanks robbie.

 

A guy I know who installed the Dynatrac free spin hubs says he got a 1 mpg gain.