Once you’ve performed this basic wheel bearing test, you should have a better idea of where the problem is. Then, it’s a case of diagnosing the front or rear wheel on the side in question.

What happens if you drive with a bad wheel bearingreddit

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Wheel bearings generally last a long time but with constant use, they can lose their lubricity causing rapid wear and deterioration and will eventually start to show various signs of failure. These indications must not be ignored and you should always inspect and replace the hub assemblies if you start to notice the symptoms of bad wheel bearings.

Replacing all of your car’s wheel bearings might cost an eye-watering sum, but it’s guaranteed to be a lot cheaper than repairing the damage should a bearing fail.

What happens if you drive with a bad wheel bearingwithout

Continuing to drive on a bad wheel bearing can lead to extensive and critical damage which will be significantly more expensive to repair than a simple bearing re-grease and service. And in the worst cases, the damage from a faulty bearing that goes untreated can prove impossible to fix, particularly if it contributes to corrosion of surrounding components and the axle.

Typically, wheel bearings have a lifespan of around 85,000 to 100,000 miles, so if your car is approaching these kinds of figures, it’s important to keep an eye on the tell-tale signs of a bearing in decline.

Temporary fix forbad wheel bearing

The cost of a wheel bearing replacement in the UK is roughly £150-£300, dependent on the make and model of your car and a mechanic’s labour costs. The good news is that you don’t need to replace all wheel bearings at once if the other three remain in a safe and serviceable condition.

To do that, you’ll first need to jack up your car so that both wheels are off the ground. We would strongly recommend using service ramps for this to ensure you can carry out the following checks safely.

These factors confirm that driving with a broken wheel bearing is serious and you must replace your bearings as soon as you notice the below-mentioned symptoms to avoid any unnecessary situations.

How long willa wheel bearinglast after it starts making noise

You can still drive with a bad wheel bearing, but we wouldn’t recommend it for long distances. Keep your mileage to a minimum and look out for worsening symptoms of a wheel bearing fault; we cover the symptoms to check for later in this guide.

Confident in car maintenance DIY? Lubricate and service your car’s wheel bearings with Holts Multi-Purpose Lithium Grease. Trusted by professionals, it reduces friction and wear in all moving parts, even those that work under extreme pressure. For more top tips and advice, read the Holts blog or visit our help and advice centre.

How long canyou driveona bad wheel bearing

It isn’t advised to drive a vehicle with a broken wheel bearing as you can face many different problems, which can develop into bigger, more pressing concerns and will require more expensive repairs if the signs are neglected. Let us get an idea of what safety concerns a broken wheel bearing poses to understand the proper answer to the above question.

Frontwheel bearingnoise symptoms

Note that in the case of non-driven wheels (which is usually the rear wheels in most cars) the axle will not be present and hence you can completely skip the steps related to the axle nut and axle.

Suspect that your car is suffering from a faulty wheel bearing? Our guide can help you check and diagnose the problem, and decide if and when it’s still safe to drive.

Given the damage that can occur as a result of a failed wheel bearing, not to mention the dangers, this further reinforces the importance of getting those bearings checked and repaired the moment you realise there’s a problem.

If you’re aware that there’s an issue with your car’s wheel bearing, it’s best to take it straight to a mechanic for a full diagnosis and repair. Often, it may just be a case of relubricating the ball bearings within the assembly before repacking them, which is significantly simpler to put right than the alternative.

While you can drive with a broken wheel bearing, you really shouldn’t be. The wheel bearing comes in many different types but all serve the same function; to allow the wheel to rotate about a stationary spindle held via the suspension system. The wheel bearing is part of the wheel hub which is directly splined with the CV shaft for the driven wheels and is simply held onto the spindle for non-driven wheels.

The replacement job of the wheel bearing is a little involved but if you have tackled brake rotor replacement before then this is just a few extra steps. There are two types of wheel bearing mounts, bolt-on, and pressed-in. We will showcase the replacement job for each of these.

What happens if you drive with a bad wheel bearingwhile

Wheel bearing failure is evident from many signs that can signal you to carry out the necessary maintenance. Here are simple signs to look out for bearing failure:

Wheel bearingreplacement cost

However, it is crucial to note that the vehicle can be driven with a broken wheel bearing if in a situation where a replacement cannot be carried out immediately, like for example in the middle of a deserted road. If so then drive slowly and just get to the nearest mechanic or your home and only drive the vehicle when the bearing is fixed.

If you suspect you have a wheel bearing fault but aren’t sure which side of the vehicle is affected, there’s a safe and simple test you can use to check. Our step-by-step guide below can take you through how it’s done…

Need to recap the signs of a failing wheel bearing? Here are the symptoms to watch out for while you’re driving, particularly when turning corners:

As you’ll know from our car maintenance glossary, bearings allow the wheels to turn freely without generating huge amounts of heat. If a bearing were to fail, the wheel can seize up altogether, resulting in catastrophic damage and the potential for a serious incident. Indeed, in the very worst-case scenario, a failed bearing can cause the wheel to rip away from the car entirely.

Make sure to use the following tools while replacing wheel bearing and hub to considerably reduce the effort required to do it:

Figuring out the issue is just one step, fixing it is another, so let’s get you acquainted with the procedure of replacing your wheel bearings.

When the car is elevated and in place, take hold of each wheel in turn and wiggle it backwards and forwards, side to side. If there is any play in the wheel, it feels wobbly or loose, or an unusual noise accompanies some minor movement, then you’ve found the problem wheel.