One of the first signs of worn out wheel bearings you should look out for is what feels like a reduction in your car’s power. Worn out bearings often create significant wobbling in vehicles, which can make your car unsteady above certain speeds and create friction that prevents them from accelerating properly.

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How to tell which wheel bearing isbadwhile driving

You might think this is just an annoying light on the dash you can ignore while driving, but we strongly recommend against doing so (or driving while any of your dashboard’s warning lights are on). The ABS sensor determines when your anti-lock braking system engages—and if it detects significantly more friction on one side of your vehicle than the other, it may turn ABS on when you’re not expecting it, creating a serious safety hazard.

According to CR’s June 2022 nationally representative survey of 2,103 U.S. adults (PDF), almost 70 percent of people said they might or would consider induction for their next range or cooktop, but only 3 percent currently have an induction appliance in their kitchen. That may be because in the past, induction ranges were far pricier than radiant electric smoothtops. And while switching from a traditional electric range to an induction one only requires plugging in the new appliance, switching from a gas range can mean higher installation fees.

That wobbling we just mentioned will probably first be noticeable in your steering wheel. You might not feel as though it’s much of an issue at first—but if you don’t replace the bearings soon, the friction will increase and can cause your entire car or truck to vibrate. In these cases, it’s best to replace the bearing ASAP to prevent unnecessary friction on your driveshaft and the rest of your transmission.

We know all about wheel bearings, why they fail, and when they need to be replaced. Read on to learn about 8 common signs of wheel bearing problems so you can recognize a failing bearing in your own vehicle and order a high-quality replacement for it before it leads to other problems.

When the wheel bearings on one side of your car begin to fail, they’ll cause more friction in the hub assembly of the wheels they’re attached to. As a result, that wheel won’t turn as fast as the one on the other side of your vehicle—which means the tires won’t wear evenly on both sides.

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Most of the time, wheel bearings fail when the seal protecting them breaks. This allows heat, water, dust, and other debris to enter the hub assembly, where it can contaminate the lubricant that keeps your bearings moving smoothly while you drive. This contamination can eventually cause the bearings to rust, which prevents them from moving smoothly against each other and creates friction within your hub assembly—putting strain on your driveshaft and ultimately your transmission.

You may not think about the wheel bearings in your car often—but when there’s a problem with them, it’ll cause issues that make driving noticeably harder. Of course, figuring out exactly what issues come from worn-out wheel bearings can be difficult for people without a lot of mechanical experience. That’s why we’re here to help.

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Symptoms of a bad hub assemblynoise

If you’re switching from gas, no electric stovetop (induction or not) can truly match the visual feedback offered by a flame. But some induction smoothtops feature an artificial “flame”: rings of LED lights at the front edge of the burner that glow brighter as you turn up the heat. Gas converts may feel most comfortable with induction cooktops that offer bold LEDs, such as the Samsung NZ30K7880UG in our ratings, rather than those with a subtle glow.

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Induction cooktops and ranges look almost indistinguishable from the more common radiant electric smoothtops, but they heat differently. Radiant electric smoothtops have a heating element beneath the flat ceramic glass surface that warms the glass, which in turn heats the pot or pan through a combination of conduction and radiation. An induction burner, by contrast, creates an electromagnetic field that interacts with the induction-compatible cookware itself, inducing heat directly without the need to warm the glass in between.

The good news is that prices have fallen considerably—some induction cooktops now cost around $1,000. And the recently passed Inflation Reduction Act allocates $4.5 billion to states to provide rebates on the purchase of new electric appliances, including induction ranges and cooktops, which could reduce your expenses for buying and installing a new induction appliance (find out how much it costs to make the switch, below). Here are answers to your questions about induction, along with ratings for top-scoring induction ranges and cooktops.

In many newer cars and trucks, wheel hub assemblies also contain the sensor for the anti-lock braking system. When the bearings inside the hub assembly fail, the ABS sensor on your dashboard may turn on.

When wheel bearings wear down and stop moving smoothly, they may produce a clunking or banging sound. Often, this is only noticeable when a bearing has experienced significant wear and tear—although it can also be apparent when travelling over surfaces with uneven patches.

If you’re switching from gas, the cost of moving to induction will be higher because you’re likely to need a new outlet and an electric line run from your home’s circuit panel. Expect to pay $50 to $100 per hour for an electrician and plan on about 3 to 4 hours for a simple installation. You may also need to pay to cap off your old gas line. And induction appliances are pricier than many gas models (which start at $505 for ranges and $700 for the cooktops in our ratings).

Wheel bearings just aren’t meant to last forever. In general, it’s a good idea to replace them every 85,000–100,000 miles (roughly 136,000–160,000 kms). Of course, the lifespan of your wheel bearings also depends on the quality of the products you buy—our high-quality aftermarket replacement wheel bearings are designed to last significantly longer than the cheapest options you’ll find online.

When bearings wear out or lose their lubrication, they can create a grinding noise. This noise is normally more noticeable when turning your vehicle to the side with the worn out bearing on it. If you hear grinding, loud humming, or rumbling coming from your vehicle during turns or while accelerating, there’s a good chance your bearings are due for replacement.

Enough wear and tear on your drive axle can eventually affect the way your vehicle steers. If you notice that your vehicle no longer handles as responsively when turning the wheel (especially if it’s more prominent on one side, since bearings on both sides of a vehicle rarely wear out at the same time), have the bearings in your car checked by a professional mechanic ASAP.

Plus, more on induction cooking:• Pros and Cons of Induction Cooktops and Ranges• The Surprising Things I Learned When I Ditched My Gas Stove for an Induction Range• What the Inflation Reduction Act Could Mean for Your Next Appliance Purchase

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Induction ranges and cooktops are some of the best performers we test when compared with gas and electric models. But this cool new technology comes at a slightly higher price than traditional ranges and cooktops.

In addition to faster and more precise control of heating, you’ll notice some other distinctive qualities of induction appliances.

Other models may have only smaller indicator lights on the control panel to alert you when a burner is on. And when you first use induction, our experts advise lowering the heat for recipes until you’re more accustomed to the speedier heating of induction, to prevent things from burning or boiling over.

Wheel bearing replacement cost

By not having to heat that glass, induction elements are about 5 to 10 percent more energy-efficient than traditional electric heating elements. They’re also able to heat pots more precisely because of their digital controls and to bring liquids to a boil faster. In fact, high-power induction burners can boil a pot of water roughly 20 to 40 percent faster than the best gas and radiant electric ranges and cooktops we’ve tested. And because the glass top stays relatively cool, induction appliances are generally considered safer than other types.

Even in cars without ABS, driving with worn-out bearings can cause major handling problems. Enough friction on one side of the car can result in your vehicle pulling to one side. This can make turning in one direction much more difficult than the other, reducing your ability to manoeuvre in potentially dangerous situations. It can also cause you to drift to one side while driving in a straight line unless you’re constantly applying pressure in the opposite direction—which can cause you to become fatigued more quickly, making longer drives less comfortable and much less safe.

For example, if you leave a burner on and then place a flammable object such as a pizza box on it, the box won’t burn because the electromagnetic field can heat up only compatible metal objects. That’s true for your skin, too: If you accidentally graze against the stovetop when the burner is on, you won’t be burned. (That said, you could still be burned by a hot pan while cooking—or if you brush up against an area warmed by the pot.)

We’ve also rounded up the best cookware from our tests that works with induction, from stainless steel pots and pans to Dutch ovens and cast-iron skillets.

If you’re switching from an electric range or cooktop, chances are good that you can swap in your new induction appliance by plugging it into the same outlet. Most induction ranges and cooktops work with the same 240-volt outlets as radiant electric stoves. But because induction heats food faster, you’re likely to use less energy and may save on your electric bill.

Keep in mind that the new Inflation Reduction Act allocates funding for states to offer credits of up to $840 for new electric ranges and cooktops, including induction models. If you’re switching from gas to induction, you may also be eligible for an extra $500 to offset the costs of the conversion. These funds will be administered through your state; to find out whether you’re eligible, go to the Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency.

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Another safety bonus: Induction, like other electric appliances, won’t produce toxic emissions like gas stovetops do. (See “How to Stay Safe From Hidden Home Hazards.”)

If you’re swapping a gas range for an induction model, you may also like your broiler better: In our testing, electric ranges are far better than gas models at broiling, and induction models are no exception—all but one of the induction models in our ratings earn a rating of Good or better for broiling. The best models heat evenly and get roaring hot, which should mean nicely seared meats or beautifully baked ziti.

However, induction appliances can cost more: In our ratings, 30-inch electric ranges start at $600, while 30-inch induction ranges start at $1,160. And while 30-inch electric cooktops start at $630, 30-inch induction ones start at $950. (See our pricing chart, below.) You may find induction options for as little as 5 percent more than a comparable electric appliance, but premium models can cost quite a bit more.

If you suspect a problem with your wheel bearings, one good rule of thumb is to take a closer look at the rubber on your vehicle. If the tires are balding on one side and have plenty of tread on the other, a worn-out bearing is likely the culprit.

You might also be surprised to learn that induction cooktops are easier to clean than radiant electric ones. That’s because a radiant electric smoothtop gets so hot that any spills from cooking can burn onto the surface. That’s not likely to happen on the cooler glass of induction stovetops: Even if you spill something sticky while cooking, you can usually just wipe it up with a sponge. But one thing will stay exactly the same: Induction ranges have regular electric ovens, and they heat just like any electric one would, with heating elements on the top and bottom of the cavity.

If you’re switching from traditional electric, you’ll have the same number of burners as the majority of electric smoothtops (30-inch appliances tend to have four burners; 36-inch appliances tend to have five). But where a typical electric smoothtop may have only one or two high-power burners, induction stovetops often have three or more—ideal if you want to boil pasta and potatoes at the same time.