Wheel bearingnoise when accelerating

If wheel bearing noises and other symptoms of a bad wheel bearing appear while you’re driving, reduce your speed at a steady rate. Refrain from turning too fast to avoid damaging the bearing.

Mia Bevacqua has over 14 years of experience in the auto industry and holds a bachelor’s degree in Advanced Automotive Systems. Certifications include ASE Master Automobile Technician, Master Medium/Heavy Truck Technician, L1, L2, L3, and L4 Advanced Level Specialist. Mia loves fixer-upper oddballs, like her 1987 Cavalier Z-24 and 1998 Astro Van AWD.

Badwheel bearingsymptoms

You might be wondering whether you can continue driving with a bad wheel bearing. And the answer is—absolutely not. In some cases, a failed wheel bearing can cause you to lose a wheel while driving, which can have potentially deadly consequences.

You’re driving along on a warm, sunny day listening to your favorite song. Life is good. But when you turn down the radio, you hear an unusual noise that coincides with the rotation of the tires. What could it be?

You can determine which wheel bearing needs replacement by testing each wheel with the following method. Raise your vehicle with a jack stand until it’s high enough for the tires to spin. Grab the tire you want to test by its 6 and 12 o’clock positions. Spin the wheel and check for any wiggling. Listen for wheel bearing noise as well.

Wheel bearingnoise test

In either case, the frequency of the bad wheel bearing sound will correspond to the rotation of the tires. The sound will also increase with vehicle speed (though it may go away at a certain point) and may get louder when turning in one direction or the other.

So, once again, if you think you’ve got a bad wheel bearing, get the problem fixed right away by either going to a mechanic, or by purchasing a replacement bearing and fixing it yourself.

Most passenger cars and minivans come with a 4-wheel ABS, which also aids them in steering their vehicle during an emergency. In contrast, rear-wheel-only ABS is specifically designed to prevent pickup trucks, vans, and SUVs from skidding across slippery surfaces.

As was mentioned above, if you ignore a bad wheel bearing, you could end up losing a wheel. That’s the worst-case scenario, but there are other undesirable consequences, as well. A bad wheel bearing can cause abnormal tire wear, a pulsation while driving—even problems with the ABS system.

Wheel bearingnoise when driving

To know if the wheel bearings in your car are going bad, listen for snapping, popping, or clicking sounds when you turn. These sounds are all signs that the joint connecting your wheel to your axel is starting to wear out. Notice if the sound coming from your wheel is changing as you change your speed, and notice if you feel your steering wheel vibrating when you drive. If you feel your wheels wobbling while you drive, you should stop driving immediately, since this is a sign of severe bearing damage. To find out how to evaluate your bearing damage, keep reading! Did this summary help you?YesNo

How to tell whichwheel bearingis bad while driving

Your car has a lot of rotating parts, which makes it hard to distinguish a bad wheel bearing from many other problems. Paying attention to when the noise occurs may help you narrow down your options.

Any information provided on this Website is for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace consultation with a professional mechanic. The accuracy and timeliness of the information may change from the time of publication. Read our full disclaimer here.

Wheel bearingreplacement cost

In some cases, yes. A 4-wheel ABS can increase your stopping distance if you’re driving on icy roads and other slippery surfaces. In most cases, however, it will activate and pump the brakes much faster than you could, immediately stopping the vehicle within a short stopping distance.

A faulty ABS will make your vehicle’s brake system unpredictable. The ABS can suddenly activate and pump your brakes even though it’s unnecessary. In some cases, it can start making strange clicking noises.

A bad wheel bearing is one possibility. If you hear a strange wheel bearing sound, you should check the parts as early as possible.

So, if you think you hear the rumble of a bad wheel bearing, be sure to get your vehicle repaired immediately. Your safety depends on it.

There are a lot of other problems that can mimic the sound of a bad wheel bearing. To be sure that one of your car’s wheel bearings is to blame, you’ll need to do some additional diagnostic work.

To use your ABS, you’ll have to apply firm pressure to the brake pedal. Make sure you don’t pump the pedal and keep your foot firmly planted on the pedal. Then, steer your vehicle to a safe spot where you can park if necessary.

Frontwheel bearingnoise symptoms

The only time you should pump the brake pedal when driving a car with ABS is when the system suddenly fails. If it’s working perfectly fine, however, just keep a firm pressure on the brake. This will allow the ABS to work much better.

Wheel bearing soundwhen turning

To learn more about each of these methods, check out our in-depth article on diagnosing a faulty hub and bearing assembly. You’ll quickly pick up the tips and tricks on how to check for a bad wheel bearing.

This article was co-authored by Hovig Manouchekian. Hovig Manouchekian is an Auto Repair and Design Specialist and the Manager of Funk Brothers Auto, a family-owned business operated since 1925. With over 30 years of experience in the automotive industry, Hovig specializes in the process of auto repair and maintenance. He is also very knowledgeable in common automotive issues and needs including engine repair, battery replacement, and windshield accessory and maintenance. Hovig's knowledge and hard work have contributed to Funk Brothers Auto winning Angie's List Super Service Award for five consecutive years. There are 7 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 177,285 times.

Furthermore, in most cases, you’ll hear a noisy wheel bearing regardless of whether you’re accelerating or decelerating. On the other hand, some drivetrain noises—but not all—will change upon acceleration or deceleration.

You’ll also want to keep in mind that not all bad wheel bearings make noise. Some worn-out bearings will exhibit excessive lateral movement, without making any abnormal sounds.

While you should never want to hear the sound of a wheel bearing going out, it’s important to recognize the noise. Most people describe a bad wheel bearing as making a growling or rumbling noise (the sound is often mistaken for worn tires). Also, in some cases, a bad bearing may make a high-pitched grinding or squealing sound.

At the end of the day, it can be difficult to distinguish a bad wheel bearing from other problems. That’s why it’s important to perform further diagnostic work before jumping to conclusions. Otherwise, you may end up replacing a wheel bearing only to find the problem was something else.

Obviously, a faulty wheel bearing will only make noise when you’re driving. So, if you hear the sound when the vehicle is stopped, you can rule out the wheel bearings altogether. It’s also important to note that wheel bearing noise will basically sound the same no matter what type of surface you’re traveling over.

You already know a faulty wheel bearing can cause noise. But did you know that it can cause other issues as well? A bad bearing may allow the wheel hub to exhibit excessive movement. Plus, the internal bearing components will experience increased friction. As a result, you may notice your vehicle displaying the following problems:

Wheel bearings are metal balls held by a ring and allow the wheel on your vehicle to spin with as little friction as possible. Over time, bearings can break down due to a lack of lubrication and typical wear and tear. Driving on a bad wheel bearing can be dangerous, and could cause severe damage to your vehicle if you continue to drive on it. Luckily, diagnosing a failing wheel bearing is relatively easy and you can usually determine if there's a problem by listening to your wheels and evaluating any changes in your car's handling.