Is the engine bearing melted or burnt? Are there other signs of damage in the engine bearing shell in addition to initial rubbing marks, seizures and edge riding? You can find out how to detect heat cracks and melting areas and what to do here.

Engine bearing failureAnalysis Guide

-> Clear discolouration and fusion is visible on the sliding layer of the seized bearing shells. The crack formation is above all recognisable in the area of the edge.

Overheating damage is the result of dramatic temperature development in the engine bearing shell, which goes hand-inhand with acute mixed friction. This is why heat cracks, discolouration and fusing are also always displayed for initial rubbing marks or seizure. The heat dissipation provided by the lubricant plays a central role here. If heat dissipation is no longer provided, this causes complete failure. Even with the initial signs of overheating, local changes to the microstructure occur and the integrity of the material is reduced. Heat cracks form at the affected areas.

We delve into the fascinating world of the bearing to gain some insight into these friction-beating devices and how to know if you need to replace yours.

Engine bearing failuresymptoms

Remedy If overheating damage occurs, the bearing must be replaced and the causes investigated. In the event of consequential damage, the cause of the primary damage must be rectified. If no further damage to the bearing is visible, the lubricant circuit and the stress on the bearing must be checked.

Engine bearingwear chart

If your car begins to emit a grinding noise at low speeds which turns into a low drone at higher speed which emanates from one of the wheels, the bearing may have collapsed. If you experience shuddering through the steering wheel during braking or turning, the wheel bearing may have collapsed. An easy check is to grab the tyre and shake the wheel vigorously side to side, if the wheel rocks, then it is highly likely that the bearing has failed.

Is the engine bearing melted or burnt? Are there other signs of damage in the engine bearing shell in addition to initial rubbing marks, seizures and edge riding? You can find out how to detect heat cracks and melting areas and what to do here.

Replacing a wheel bearing requires heavy-duty garage equipment that you generally won't have at home. A hydraulic press is needed to push the races out of and off of the hubs, as these are very tightly press-fitted. Attempting to remove and replace a wheel bearing without a press will damage the new bearing. This is not a cheap exercise as there is a lot of labour involved. The bearings themselves are not expensive and usually cost a few hundred rand, but it is the labour cost that could easily push a wheel bearing replacement into the thousands. Depending on the vehicle model, it may even be cheaper to buy a completely new hub and knuckle assembly that can just be changed out as a complete unit.

Engine bearing failurecauses

Bearings are designed to last the maximum amount of time if they operate in ideal conditions, with sufficient lubrication. A bearing will begin to break down and fail if the lubrication is removed or contaminated with water or dirt or if they overheat. Bearings also have a lifespan measured in operational hours, but this lifespan will be reduced significantly if rust or dirt contaminates the races or overheating occurs.

Your car's wheels do not run directly on the axle; they rotate on a wheel bearing, which is usually made from high-grade steel balls that rotate between two pieces of steel called races. Some wheel bearings are made up of small high-grade steel rods that rotate between two tapered steel races. Bearings reduce rolling friction and allow your vehicle to roll easily on the road. Wheel bearings that run within brake rotor discs are sealed and self-contain their lubrication while those that run in drums are usually the taper type and are open to the elements.

Modern automobiles are made up of hundreds of thousands of parts but it cannot be argued that the most important of those are the contact points with the road. Your wheels, tyres, brakes, and suspension system are critical in keeping your car on the road. There are hundreds of friction points on a car, and in the most critical points, engineers will install bearings to keep that friction to a minimum and help propel the vehicle forward with as much ease as possible.

Your car's wheels, too, have bearings, and if these should fail, you will find out rather quickly that something is wrong. We take a look at these interesting pieces of engineering, and how to know, and what you can do if they stop working properly.