A final word on wheel bearings. As soon as you suspect your wheel bearings of failing, have it replaced. It is always wise to replace all of them at the same time. Also, do keep in mind that wheel bearings are made from very strong steel and are extremely durable. Even if you hear one of the wheel bearings making a whirring, grounding, or droning sound, it is likely that it will be a while before it fails completely, so no need to fall into a state of panic. We do not advise you to wait, have a failing wheel bearing addressed as soon as possible.

Wheel bearings are components we usually take for granted and we rarely consider that they might need replacement at some stage. In this article, we at Steves Auto Clinic wish to rectify this. We hope to instil in you an awareness and appreciation for this component, and that this will make you an informed vehicle owner, because we believe that informed vehicle owners are owners who take better care of their vehicles.

You should keep this in mind when contemplating any wheel bearing issues; let us take a look at those signs that is more visible.

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Her experiences in Brazil and China have taught her to appreciate the world’s diversity and to cross cultures successfully. Her hobbies are reading, sea kayaking, paddle boarding and travel. She has two daughters attending university. She actively volunteers for her a local national club swim team.

* All manufacturer’s names, numbers, symbols & descriptions are for reference purposes only. It is not implied that any part, conversion or modification is the product of these manufacturers.

* All Test Figures displayed on this website were obtained at Highveld altitude. These figures may differ from vehicle to vehicle. The power figures have been corrected back to flywheel power.

Terri is an independent cross-cultural trainer specializing in helping families moving overseas, assisting those coming from overseas to live and work in the U.S., and providing group business briefings on China, Brazil and USA. Terri has worked with large automotive companies, automotive suppliers, oil companies, national office supply and furniture companies, the construction industry, electronic companies, IT companies, chemical companies, not to mention many other national and international companies.

Interchangeably

Originally from the USA, Tasha relocated in 2011 to the UK and currently resides with her husband near London. She serves on the board of The Namibia Project Charity.

With most vehicle components, troubleshooting is not that difficult, but as Rob King (2016) rightly points out, it is very difficult for the average vehicle owner to tell when a wheel bearing starts to fail. No, we do not underestimated the intellect of the average driver; it is the manifestation of a bad bearing that is so treacherous. You see, the noise made by a bad bearing (described as a whirring, grounding, droning sound), starts out quiet, and the longer you leave it unattended, the louder it will become. As if this is not enough, King points to the fact that it is especially difficult to figure out which of the four bearings is busy failing. What makes it so difficult is that the sound it makes can echo through the vehicle, making the pinpointing a nightmare. The only certain way to identify the culprit bearing is to jack the vehicle up and manually rotate each wheel. The wheel that sounds different from the rest when it rotates and have a play in side-to-side wheel movement is most certainly the wheel with the faulty wheel bearing.

Tasha has directed several research studies in the UK and Qatar on educators’ experiences and perceived needs with regards to transition at their international school in order to improve the transition experience for educators, students and families in these cultural contexts. These findings have helped her to develop and deliver school-wide transition and intercultural development programs.

Dr. Copeland has written several books on families and transition (Studying Families, Sage 1991, Separating Together 1997, and In Their Own Voice 2011), and has authored over 90 research articles, chapters, and professional presentations.

Simultaneously

A bearing subjected to corrosion (water, acids, and other agents) will experience excessive or abnormal wear. Always keep this in mind.

Dr. Copeland has directed many research studies on expatriate families’ experience, including multinational in-depth analyses of the social, familial, and personal aspects of moving to a new country, including a focus on the personal and family side of international short-term assignments, the role of one’s home – its design and layout – on one’s expatriate experience, on the challenges of moving to a country that is perceived as very similar, the experiences of high school exchange host families, and the ways in which having experienced being different as a child has an impact on the expatriate experience. Recent work focuses on how interculturalists have built and nurtured their careers.

High temperatures can cause premature bearing failure. Oxidation causes loss of lubricating elements and the formation of carbon. The carbon may jam the bearing. High temperatures may also reduce the hardness of the metal, causing early failure. Mild temperature elevations may cause grease to bleed which reduces the efficiency of the lubricant.

Dr. Tasha Arnold is an experienced leader and researcher in the field of education specializing in cross-cultural training, transition support, and program development for schools, universities, and global teams. She co-founded The Academic Achievement Bureau where she worked with international schools and universities conducting research on their organization and providing services to aid intercultural understanding, transition adjustment, and student achievement. She is currently the Executive Director of The Interchange Institute, a NEASC and CIS school accreditor, and serves on the board of The Namibia Project.

Dr. Tasha Arnold is an experienced leader and researcher in the field of education specializing in cross-cultural training and development for schools, universities, and multicultural teams. As the Executive Director of The Interchange Institute (TII), Tasha is responsible for overseeing the administration, programs and strategic plan of TII, while also serving as an evaluator for the Intercultural Training Expertise Certification (ITEC) Board and being actively involved in the training of emerging and experienced interculturalists through the Crossing Cultures with Competence Train the Trainer program.

In addition to her overseas experience in China, Ms. McGinnis also lived with her family as an expatriate in Brazil for three years where she studied Portuguese. In addition to her language studies, she worked for Fiske School teaching English as a second language to Brazilian nationals. While in Brazil, the International School of Curitiba engaged her services for curriculum and staff development.

That is a question that Rob King (2016), also asked, and his answer is very simple – they are bearings, for the wheels! Jokes aside, wheels usually bolt onto a wheel hub and at the centre of that, you will find the wheel bearing. The wheel bearing allows the wheel to rotate in a smooth friction-reduced manner. Most wheel bearings use tapered roller bearings (as seen in the image) that consist of a set of spherical steel balls held in line by a metal track called a race; this is usually sealed up with high-temperature grease. Roller bearings are generally used on the driven wheels of a vehicle, while tapered bearings are predominantly used on the non-driven wheels. The wheel bearing is a single component that is pressed into the hub itself. The fit is so tight that there is no chance of it popping out, but there is usually a circlip in front of the bearing to prevent this.

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A corroded or pitted wheel bearing will lose the smooth exterior lining and any vibration will then be transmitted to the tyres of the vehicle. Your vehicle may then feel like it is pulling to one or the other side.

The wheel bearing may be one of the most overlooked yet highly critical parts of the drive-axle and steering assembly. The wheel bearings are essential in the operation of your vehicle; they allow friction-reduced movement and rotation of the hub assembly, and thereby provides smooth tyre and wheel rotation. Think for a moment what would happen if you are driving along, with your loved ones, and a wheel bearing fails. When a wheel bearing goes bad, you are in for some trouble.

If you require a wheel bearing, wheel bearing kit or hub assembly for your vehicle, then look no further. We at Steves Auto Clinic are always ready to assist you with any vehicle related issue. If something is wrong with your vehicle, we will have it fixed. Our branches are fitted with hi-tech equipment and highly qualified specialists and mechanics to give you the peace of mind that your vehicle is in good and caring hands.

Tasha is a certified teacher and principal/head of school and accredits schools worldwide with the New England Association of Schools and Colleges and Council for International Schools.

A faulty wheel bearing can lead to uneven tyre wear. It is very rare for wheel bearings to wear evenly, so if you discover uneven tyre wear, then consider the possibility of a faulty bearing. It is true that other issues may also cause uneven tyre wear, but do not risk ignoring a faulty wheel bearing.

Take notice of the fact that foreign particles such as dirt, abrasive grit, lint, dust, steel chips, etc. can cause bearings to wear.

This is basically what a wheel bearing is and how it functions. Even though wheel bearings are engineered to last a very long time, they will eventually lose their lubricity, wear out, and will need to be replaced, but how will you know when the time is ripe for such a replacement? Let us have a look at the most commonly known signs of wheel bearing failure.

A vibration in the steering wheel can be caused by a worn out wheel bearing. This vibration will usually be noticed at slow speeds and progressively get worse as the vehicle accelerates. It is true that other issues may also cause this vibration, so be sure to entertain other possibilities.

If ever you buy a set of wheel bearings, store it in a dry place because dampness may cause rust. Ensure that the wrapping of the bearing is intact as well. The safest advice is to leave it wrapped until you have to install it.

Fatigue develops due to the magnitude and the frequency of a load. If your vehicle is frequently heavily loaded, then you should inspect your wheel bearings more often than others should.

Prior to founding The Interchange Institute in 1997, Dr. Copeland was Associate Professor of Psychology at Boston University, where she conducted research and research supervision in psychological aspects of family process assessment, ethnicity, cultural influences, immigration, development, developmental disabilities and affective development. During her tenure at the University, she relocated with her family to work in London in 1988, where she was the academic advisor for Boston University’s British Programmes.

Ms. McGinnis graduated with a Master of Science degree in Instructional Technology and a Bachelor of Science degree in Education.

Apart from these visible clues, it may also be helpful if we give you a better understanding of what contributes to wheel bearing damage. The website Applied.com gives a list of these, which may also serve as preventative advice, and for the purpose of this discussion, we will discuss them here.

Dr. Copeland is a clinical psychologist with expertise in family and cultural transition. During her tenure as Executive Director of The Interchange Institute, she provided cross-cultural training for individuals and families moving to and from the United States. She also trained almost 500 interculturalists around the world to deliver tailored, individualized cross-cultural orientation programs through the Crossing Cultures with Competence program that she developed.

Wheel bearings should be fitted properly, with the correct equipment. Improper fitted bearings will only become a problem.

A well-read and traveled individual, Terri has lived in and navigated different cultures successfully. Ms. McGinnis lived with her family as an expatriate in Beijing, China. In China, she conducted cross-cultural training programs, studied Mandarin, worked for the International School of Beijing providing classes to their staff, and provided Pilates training to individuals in the expatriate community of Beijing.

Although we make every attempt to provide current, correct information on our website, mistakes do sometimes happen and we apologise for any confusion that may occur due to any error. Prices are subject to change without notice and we reserve the right to uphold current in store pricing. * All Prices quoted on this website were correct at the time of publishing and actual prices may vary.

Here we refer to wheel looseness (wheel play), which is a common symptom of a bad wheel bearing. As a bearing wears down, it becomes loose inside the wheel hub and spindle, and that will make your vehicle feel loose while driving.

Prior to her work at the Interchange Institute, Tasha held positions in both public and private schools and co-founded The Academic Achievement Bureau where she worked with international schools and universities conducting research on their organization and provided services to aid intercultural understanding, transition adjustment, and student and staff well-being.

Prior to her international assignments, Ms. McGinnis was a high school teacher teaching vocational business skills. She also has eight years of experience in the automotive industry working in various HR positions.

If the bearing is not properly sealed, it will enable foreign material and contaminants to enter the bearing, causing wear.