Wheel bearings should be serviced one a year at minimum. That, and checking the whole vehicle for oil/grease leaks every oil change will prevent such surprises.

 

The local FPLRG was caravanning to the MAR event. I wasn'twith them but heard the story. Disco Bill had just recently purchased his 95. During the drive, Bill's wheel bearing went out on the interstate. They all pulled over, another member had his tool set with spare bearings, seals and all the needed items. The bearing was indeed welded to the stub axle, but between the various members and their collective knowledge and tools, they fixed it right there on the shoulder of I-95 late at night, using the trail lights from another members rig. He also had the on-board air compressor and a rotary grinder to remove the bad bearing. A little bit later they were off again. Bill was a very fortunate man to have all that help, had hee been alone, he would have been stranded.