Throw away truck parts

[stacktester]

I recently had to replace the front hub on my truck because the bearings were wore out. Now back in the day I remember we used to have rotors turned and bearings were pressed out and new one's put in. When I went to fix my hub I had to buy a new one for about 200 bucks and I put it on myself. I asked the parts guy if there was a core and he said no. Now I have this 20 or so pound chunk of metal in the shop collecting rust. Has steel just gotten so cheap we can throw it away?

I took it to a mechanic friend who is going to press the old bearings out and see if he can get new one's. He said good American bearings would be around $60. I figure he's saving me $140 when the other side wears out if they're replacable.

I guess my ? is why do we not rebuild parts like we used to. One funny thing was I replaced my alternator and the part was about $125. The core was $100. They wanted that baby back in a big way lol.

 

[LONE-STAR]

I think GM started the throw away bearing hub on 4x4 trucks. The first time I saw it was on my 88 chevy 4x4. I was surprised to see them on my 2000 f-350 4x4 and I am sure they are on my current f-350 4x4.

 

[bigdisneydaddy]

Many parts are no longer rebuild able like they used to be. The current style front hub design will cost more to "rebuild" than the cost to make a new one due to the way its designed and manufactured. While these hubs are more expensive than an old fashioned set of bearings they are easier to replace, do not require maintenance and last much longer (unless you live up here and have to remove the ABS sensors and clean them of rust periodically)
Electronic parts are a good example, often a small part will fail on a circuit board rendering the part unusable, a new part could easily be soldered in place of the defective one but the cost to have a fixture to operate and test the part is cost prohibitive and the market is small making it economically ineffective to repair the part.

Just pony up and fix the truck Donnie, you know that truck doesnt owe you anything !

 

[disney4dan]

I agree, the price seems lower on the parts (I remember replacing a set of rotors on one my fathers F-250's and it was over $300 for the part in the 80's), but we just did his brakes on his F-350 and the calipers were only $80+/-.

I also remember that you considered yourself lucky to get over 100k miles on a truck in the early 80's, and that is barely broken in now.