Howtotellwhichwheel bearing is badin the front

Here at Minit-Tune & Brake Auto Centres in British Columbia, we’re always pleased to help our customers get the most out of their cars and trucks. To that end, we’ll add a relevant blog topic from time to time to keep you up to date and getting the most out of your vehicle.

Friction from a failing wheel bearing produces heat. After driving, without touching the tires or wheels, carefully walk around your vehicle and use a non-touch thermometer to measure if one is hotter than the others.

Unlike unbalanced tires, shaking caused by a bad wheel bearing should be obvious from the side of the car where the bearing is failing.

Wheel bearings last a long time. Their average lifespan is between 130,000 and 160,000 kilometres. How and where you drive and the quality of the bearing itself will determine the longevity of the component.

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On modern front- and four-wheel drive cars, wheel bearings are a set of permanently sealed, precisely machined steel ball or straight roller bearings. The balls, or rollers, are encased in a “cage” that supports the bearings, allowing them to rotate freely.

The cage and rollers are held together inside a hardened metal ring called a “race.” The seal keeps grease in and damaging water and debris out. Wheel bearings are installed inside, and secured to, the suspension, either by press fit, bolts or a snap-ring. Once mounted, the wheel bearing rides on the axle shaft, allowing the tire/wheel to spin effortlessly.

Simply stated, wheel bearings allow cars and trucks to run smoother and more efficiently by reducing friction and supporting vehicle weight. When they start to fail, you can usually tell.

NOTE: Whether you DIY or your mechanic replaces the bearing, always install a new axle hub nut. Most hub nuts are prevailing torque fasteners, used on critical components (like securing axle shafts to hub bearings) where a loose nut could lead to disastrous consequences.

Howto check forbad wheel bearing

Joe Simes is an ASE and Toyota master technician. After 20 years in the industry, Simes recently became a Pennsylvania Department of Education certified automotive technology instructor at North Montco Technical Career Center in Lansdale, Pennsylvania.

The average cost to replace a sealed wheel hub bearing is $350 per wheel. However, depending on the make and model, shop labor rate, the cost of the bearing itself and any additional damage, the total could exceed $1,000.

A bad wheel bearing can cause a tire/wheel to move or glide unevenly or sluggishly. It can also cause your brakes to drag, pulling your vehicle to one side when you try to stop.

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You can service or replace tapered wheel bearings yourself. Never reuse any wheel bearing that’s loose, worn, noisy or shows any signs of wear.

Howlongcan youdrive ona bad wheel bearing

Depending on the vehicle, you can save hundreds in labor replacing wheel bearings yourself. Most auto parts stores will lend you the specialty tools and equipment needed to replace a wheel bearing.

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Wheel bearings connect your car’s wheels to axles. They’re steel rings with small, lubricated steel balls inside them that allow the wheels to spin at high speeds with minimal friction. Although rare, faulty bearings can cause an entire wheel to fall off your car while you’re driving.

But sealed wheel bearings are non-serviceable and should never be repaired, only replaced. Even if a pro suggests repairing a bearing, don’t let them. Trying to reuse a damaged wheel bearing can result in an accident and severe injury.

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Never drive for any extended period with worn or broken wheel bearings. Here are some indicators that they need to be replaced.

You’ll hear clicking, cracking, grinding, snapping, or whining noises coming from your wheels or tires. They’ll increase when accelerating or turning.

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5. The vehicle pulls when you brake. Another symptom of a worn wheel bearing is if the car pulls to one side when you apply the brakes. This can also indicate seized brake calipers or collapsed brake hoses, so it’s best to get a brake inspection at a trusted auto centre.

1. There’s unusual tire wear. Abnormal tire wear may mean you have a problem with your wheel bearings. If you see unusual tread wear on your left tire, you may have a faulty left wheel bearing. Keep in mind, you can’t replace just one wheel bearing. If the left side goes, you need to replace the right side, too.

4. You experience wheel wobble. A worn wheel bearing loose inside the hub will cause the vehicle’s steering wheel to feel different. In particular, your car’s steering may feel “loose” and not very responsive.

Learning when your wheel bearings need to be replaced can help you prevent dangerous driving situations and keep your car safely running.

2. You hear strange noises. Loud grinding or roaring sounds from the wheels are another sign of wheel bearing problems. If a bearing loses its lubrication, the metal inside grinds against the metal, producing an awful noise. See a mechanic if you hear these types of sounds.

Howtotellwhichwheel bearing is badwhile driving

At Minit-Tune & Brake Auto Centres, we offer bumper-to-bumper repairs and maintenance inspections. Our technicians use only quality parts to ensure your car runs as efficiently as possible. Contact us at one of our many convenient locations across British Columbia and Calgary, or schedule an appointment online.

Uneven tire wear can be a sign of other problems (a wheel alignment may be needed, for example), so it’s best to get a professional to check it out.

Absolutely not. It’s crucial to get bad wheel bearings diagnosed and replaced ASAP. If not, you could lose a wheel or get in an accident.

According to Simes, a failing wheel bearing will likely produce a soft, faint vibration that’s felt before it’s heard. There may also be a vague rhythmic humming or droning sound that increases over time and with speed.

3. The steering wheel vibrates. Worn-out wheel bearings will cause your steering wheel to vibrate. It’ll begin at slow speeds and get worse as you accelerate. If this occurs, get your steering and suspension checked by a mechanic to determine the nature of the problem.

On many vehicles, the ABS sensor is built into the wheel bearing, or it’s externally mounted adjacent to the spinning part of the bearing where the sensor measures vehicle speed. Damaged from a wobbly wheel bearing, the sensor will send erratic readings to the vehicle’s computer, illuminating the ABS light.

Read on to learn the most common bad wheel bearing symptoms, based on my experience (50 years in the industry) and that of Joe Simes, a National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) certified and Toyota master technician. But first, a little background.