While fixing or replacing the bearings solves the problem, you should try to work out why this happened in the first place. While some failures result from old parts that wear out, others have a specific cause.

In either case, exposure to water reduces lubrication in the system and increases friction. The bearing might overheat or suffer from friction damage.

Every vehicle has weight load limits. If you've been using your car to carry heavy loads, then you might have overloaded it. Your bearings have to spread load weight across their wheels, and if you overload your car, then the bearings will struggle to do this.

If you think you have a wheel bearing problem, then contact Stopmaster Brakes. Our expert mechanics can check your bearings out and fix or replace them. We can also help you understand where the problem came from and how to prevent it from happening again.

If one or more of your wheels are misaligned, then their bearings might develop a problem. For example, a bearing might get contact stress marks or breaks that ultimately prevents it from doing its job.

Wheel bearings sometimes develop problems when you have an accident. Even a minor crash that doesn't seem to cause significant damage can affect these parts. A knock, shunt or bump around a wheel or door can damage a bearing or its system.

If you know why your bearings have failed, then you can assess if you need to take steps to avoid future problems. Why do wheel bearings fail?

Even if you stay close to capacity, external factors like potholes, sharp braking and tight cornering can put excess stress on the bearings and tip them over the edge, and your bearings will get hotter than they should. They also might lose lubricant if it also heats up. Excess heat and dwindling lubricant cause excess friction that damages the surface of the bearings.

Your car's wheels use a bearing system to reduce friction. If you have a problem with these bearings, then you might hear unusual sounds when you drive. Your steering might be off, and your tyres might show signs of uneven wear.

Your vehicle's wheels are meant to sit in specific positions. However, they don't always sit right. For example, if you regularly drive over rough terrain or potholed roads, then your wheels might bounce about too much. They might move out of their normal positions and become misaligned. This can also happen if you simply bump a kerb when you park. The bump might be enough to move the wheel.

For example, the impact could break or bend a seal. Once this happens, the bearing might not be able to create enough friction for its vacuum to close. Contaminants, like dirt, water and air can get inside the system and damage other parts. Damaged seals might also leak lubricant out of the system causing it to overheat.

Sometimes, excess weight can also damage bearing seals. The seals might break, change shape or move out of place. If a seal isn't intact or in position, then it allows contaminants to get into the system.

Your wheel bearings have a lubricant coat that keeps the system running smoothly. However, this coat isn't fixed in place or waterproof. If a bearing is exposed to too much water, then some of its lubricants might wash away. Or, the lubricant might allow water through into the underlying system.

Wheel bearings can fail if they are exposed to too much water. For example, if you've recently driven through a flooded street or a floodway with high water levels, then this water could be the root of your problem.