01 Rio Rear bearing question

[tempfixit]

I did front brakes on friends 2001 Rio yesterday, she had complained about hearing a noise earlier and thought it was the front brakes,which were about1/2 left but replaced anyway. Considering the condition of the front brakes I removed the driver rear wheel and spun the brake drum. I could hear a noise (sounds like the drum scraping on the backing plate but I could not find a rub spot on the drum. Could the bearings be worn causing this noise which seems to be at the same spot while spinning. The bearings do need to be repacked. (108,000 miles). Also I read on one the posts in this forum that there are shims for the rear bearings could this be the something that needs to be done. What is the testing procedure for shimming.

Also are the spindle nuts replaced whenever drums are removed?

Thanks for all advise.

[sportage4x4]

first off, wheel bearings on a rio is a common issue.

the rear bearings use no spacers of any kind. it is the front bearings you must be confused with. that being said, have a look at the rear bearings, they may very well be ready to fall off the car. the spindle nut *should* be replaced, but sometimes switching them from side to side is enough to ensure you are locking them in a different location.

[tempfixit]

Thanks Matt,

Thanks for straightening me out on the spacers. I gather from your input that replacing the bearings rather than repacking old bearings would be a good thing. Is there a recommended brand of bearing to use.

Do the front need to be repacked also?

Thanks
larry

[jcwit]

I replaced my rear bearings couple of months ago. Picked up bearings from either Advance Auto or Auto Zone. Total cost of bearings plus grease seal less than $20 per wheel. Indepentant garage with a certified mech charged $35 per wheel. Local KIA dlr. wanted $300 labor plus parts for 1 wheel. BTY I used Temkin bearings exl name brand.

[tempfixit]

Thanks jcwit, by chance would you know what the bearing numbers are? Autozone says they arre set2 and set 4 according to web site, but if I can find the actual Timken #'s that would be great.

[sportage4x4]

those are the actual timken numbers. the cup and come come as a set.

dont touch the front bearings!

it seems no one understands how to preload them properly, and seeing as how you have to press them apart to repack them, you will have to mess with the preload to put them back together. bearing preload has nothing to do with how tight the axle nut is (on the front that is).

[tempfixit]

Thanks again Matt.
I have been studying the service manual on the bearing preload procedure for the rear and I believe I understand it but I do not have a tension scale.

[sportage4x4]

thats ok. there is nothing special about the rear bearings. its the same procedure to set rear bearing preload as you would do on any vw, chrysler, or any rwd car with similar style of spindle (ie two taper roller bearings and a spindle nut)

[tempfixit]

Thanks again guys for all your help.