Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Troubleshooting WHEEL BEARING

My 98 Contour is in the shop as I type this. Ford is replacing the right front shaft and wheel bearing. Ford tells me the right front shaft is longer than the left shaft and the right shaft has a bearing on it the left doesn't have. Is it normal that a both bearings on the right side need replacing after only 79,000 kilometres? I've owned many front wheel drive cars and never changed a wheel bearing in my life. I take good care of my cars and don't drive them hard or off pavement.

I've read threads in here about wheel bearings but this is the first time I've heard of a bearing in mid shaft on the right side. Did I understand the technician properly or is he feeding me BS?

The tech is right about the passenger side drive axle being longer than the driver's side axle. I've replaced both front wheel bearings, and I never heard of an inner one on the pass. side. I'd get a second opinion if I were you. Oh and for the record ford wheel bearings suck.

The 'jackshaft' has a support bearing that bolts to the cyl block, its very close to the exhaust system and if the heat shield for it has been removed for any reason , it will fail in a ver short time...