Wheel bearings - replaced individually OR as a pair?

[tazwegion]

Recently replaced the front LHS hub assembly as it was noisy and causing bad tyre wear, the RHS is still quiet but was replaced by the previous owner over 11 years ago.

Back when we used to change bearing races and cups on wheels it was best practice to replace both sides as a precaution or investment against impending failure.

Now hubs are sealed and a lot more robust, manufacturers advise they should be replaced in pairs but other mechanics suggest it's more an ethical consideration due to extended service life experienced with hub assemblies.

After 11 years it would be prudent to change the RHS as well as a means of preventative maintenance (part has already arrived), is there any community consensus OR is it just manufacturers trying to push more product?

[Classic Boy]

I think they should be changed on condition. In my experience the lh bearing always goes before the rh because it runs on the rough edge of our poorly maintained roads. It was common in the shop to put more than one lh bearing on a falcon before ever changing the rh side

[tazwegion]

I thinking along those lines initially but figured after 11 years a new hub wouldn't hurt as I already had it sitting there, I wasn't surprised by the recent revalation regarding the misapplication of fuel excise by our Government, roads have been getting worse for ages.

[humdingerslammer]

Originally Posted by tazwegion

Recently replaced the front LHS hub assembly as it was noisy and causing bad tyre wear, the RHS is still quiet but was replaced by the previous owner over 11 years ago.

Back when we used to change bearing races and cups on wheels it was best practice to replace both sides as a precaution or investment against impending failure.

Now hubs are sealed and a lot more robust, manufacturers advise they should be replaced in pairs but other mechanics suggest it's more an ethical consideration due to extended service life experienced with hub assemblies.

After 11 years it would be prudent to change the RHS as well as a means of preventative maintenance (part has already arrived), is there any community consensus OR is it just manufacturers trying to push more product?

Yes well, I don't know how cars work in Tasmania but it could be that one wheel is designed to go faster/slower than the other so as to ensure a constantly turning car that can't fall off a cliff. Which could be handy when living on an island. But I rather think that both wheels turn at the same pace, as elsewhere. Seems sense to me to change both at the same time....I could be wrong. Or more to the point, if u are not Taswegion, I would change both.

[tazwegion]

Well that was the longest affirmative answer I've seen in ages, cheers 🤣

The LHS was quite possibly the original judging from all the difficulty I had removing it, the RHS was only 11 years old and whilst a little crusty still performed as intended.