[classicrockr]

A few months ago, my friend changed the left front wheel bearings due to a humming noise. Now it sounds like the left rear area is making a similiar sound. A mechanic quoted me $195 for 2.5 hours work to change the left rear bearing out. It only took my friend about 40 minutes to change the front one out.

Is there a mechanical difference in changing the front vs rear wheel bearings that would take so much time to do?

[GXP08jrf]

When changing the rears you need to deal with the axle shafts.

Did your buddy add the time to go to the parts store and purchase the part in his 40 minutes? The time the shop quoted is probably "standard time" to complete the full process from procuring the part to bringing the car into the bay, to pulling it back out when the job is done. 2.5 hours for a shop doesn't seem out of line when all is considered.

[easttxss]

I just did BOTH of my rear hubs last weekend and it took me just under 2.5hrs start to finish. Retired ASE Master tech with a shop full of the correct tools, but no lift, working off a floor jack. I don't know what the labor guide calls for, but I think 2.5hrs may be too high of just one. Call around.

And getting the parts is never factored into the labor charge as all shops get their parts delivered to them by the parts stores. Rockauto brought me mine and I live out in the middle of the woods.

[cdrptrks]

The rear wheel bearings are a lot more of a pain to change than the fronts.