Consider the pros and cons of taking out a personal loan before making a final decision. While personal loans are versatile, there are alternatives to personal loans that may come with lower interest and fees, especially if your credit is less-than-stellar.

If you have bad wheel bearings, you might experience the vehicle pulling to one side, sloppy or loose steering, grinding and rattling noises, and uneven tire wear.

A personal loan is money borrowed from a lender that can be used for a number of flexible purposes. Many people use these for debt consolidation, for home improvements or covering medical costs. A personal loan is borrowed in one lump sump and repaid over time with interest.

You can select "show" to see a timetable of how your monthly payments of principal and interest will reduce your balance until your loan is repaid. Use the "add extra payments" feature to find out how paying more toward your principal speeds up your amortization schedule.

More than just noisy or bothersome, bad wheel bearings could also lead to real performance issues like inconsistent braking, spongy steering and handling, uneven tire wear and, in extreme cases, the wheels could fall off. No matter how much (or how little) you know about cars, you don’t want the wheels falling off, right?

Depending on the lender or institution, the application and approval process for personal loans is often immediate and you'll get the funds disbursed in a lump sum amount within one to two business days.

In theory, wheel bearings could last as long as your Toyota. Unlike oil changes or tire rotations, there’s no standard maintenance schedule for replacing them. However, wheel bearings can be damaged if you hit a pothole, smack into a curb or bounce over a speed bump too fast.

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It's also crucial to consider the purpose of your loan before choosing a lender. If you are taking out a loan for home improvement, for example, the best lenders will be different than if you are looking for a debt consolidation loan. While you can use personal loans for almost any purpose, some lenders will offer better rates and terms for some situations than others.

If you hear noises at the wheels, one explanation might be a need for a wheel bearing replacement at one or more wheels. The noises might be described as rattling, clicking, humming, growling, or squealing. It can be a real symphony of sound if you’re not careful.

When you narrow down the top lenders, compare the annual percentage rates and use the calculator on this page to see how much different rates will cost you over the life of the loan. Also check for fees, including loan origination fees, prepayment penalties, application fees and late fees. While the fees may seem minimal, they can add up and eat into the value of your loan so read every word of the fine print before you sign on the dotted line.

Personal loans are unsecured, so your credit score carries a lot of weight in lending decisions. Borrowers with good to excellent credit get the best rates and terms. That being said, before you start applying get a copy of your credit report and check it for incorrect or outdated information and make sure you meet the lender's minimum credit requirements.

Recalls may not affect every vehicle of the same year, make and model. Use your VIN or plate to find out if your specific car has open recalls.

If water, grit, salt or sand get to the bearings, the grease in the hub assembly gets contaminated. This will wear down the bearings, and they will eventually give out.

For more on any of these complaints – not to mention more than you ever knew you wanted to know about wheel bearings, read the full article

The short answer is: Not for too long. Having bad wheel bearings can range from inconvenient and unpleasant to downright dangerous.

A personal loan is money borrowed from a lender that can be used for a number of flexible purposes. Many people use these for debt consolidation, for home improvements or covering medical costs. A personal loan is borrowed in one lump sump and repaid over time with interest.

Traditional banks, credit unions, online-only lenders and peer-to-peer lenders offer personal loans. If your credit is not great or you are trying to establish credit, it might be easier to qualify for a loan at a credit union, but there are online lenders that work with borrowers with less-than-stellar credit.

Once you’ve priced out scenarios with the personal loan calculator, compare the best personal loan offers from Bankrate’s lending partners to find the interest rate and terms that best fit your budget and goals.

Before choosing a lender, compare the interest rates, terms and features that each lender offers. Many lenders give you the option to prequalify, which allows you to see the predicted rates you could qualify for without impacting your credit. Only apply once you've found the lender that offers the most competitive rates and terms for your credit situation.

For a national average across all vehicles, the average cost to replace the wheel bearings (for 1 wheel) is about $350 (including parts and labor). But KBB.com goes deeper than that. Based on analyzing 100s of actual repair orders, we put together the Kelley Blue Book Fair Repair Range to show you what you should expect to pay for this repair for your Toyota. Simply tell us the year, model and style of your Toyota and we’ll show you a fair price for the repair.