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.

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.

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.

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?

There is no point in choosing to do it on your own if these tools have not yet been purchased; buying all of these equipment pieces in one go can be even pricier than having it done by auto mechanics.

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.

Frontwheel bearingnoise symptoms

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.

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.

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Wheel bearingnoise test

Lift the car off the ground with two jack stands. That way, you will find it easier to remove the tire for ball bearing replacements.

Mechanic experts will have specialized tools to help press out those old bearings for you. After the new bearings are pressed in, technicians will re-install the spindles onto the vehicle.

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.

How to fixbad wheel bearing

If you want to play on the safer side and replace every bearing, expect to spend between $800 and $1000 in total. Unless you are already covered by special warranty policies, the overall costs can be quite a blow for most vehicle owners.

Wheel bearingnoise quick fix

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.

Locate the rotor faces and place them face down on the ground (the back facing upwards). Then take your new bearing and push its bearing greases into your casing.

Regular wheel maintenance schedules should include frequent wheel bearing checks; that has always been a rule of thumb. However, it is the cost to replace wheel bearings that gives people a headache, as they are uncertain whether these upgrades may give huge blows to the financial budgets.

A wheel bearing is often stored within the disc brake rotors, meaning you have to pry the dust cap off to expose retaining nuts and cotter pins. A couple of pliers will be your trusted ally in such cases.

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.

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.

Put your new bearings into the rotor’s back and apply some grease to the cavity’s interior. Next, install the new seals over the bearing before placing the new retaining nuts on their spindles.

Use a ratchet to unbolt brackets and brake calipers from the spindles. Once done, remove the calipers with a screwdriver.

Technically, you can, but it’s extremely dangerous. Premature/ uneven tire wear, worn transmission, and even explosions are inevitable.

Loosen them with a ratchet (1/2 inches) and proper size sockets. Remember just to loosen them; don’t remove the nuts completely yet.

Hence, I often try to save the cost of wheel bearing by fixing/ swapping only one bearing. It is much cheaper than simultaneous front/rear replacements (refer to the pricing section above) while still delivering impeccable performance.

Wheel bearingreplacement cost

What does abad wheel bearing soundlike at high speed

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.

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.

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.

Now that the vehicle is safely secured and lifted, you can proceed to remove the nuts completely. Once done, pull the tires off and place them aside.

Does the bearing stay flush against the spindle? If so, I suggest removing the spindles – then taking both the bearings and spindles to the nearest repair shop.

To save you hours of research, my team has compiled the average price range of some of the most commonly-asked cars. If yours does not make its way into this list, I suggest consulting your dealer or manufacturer.

Wheel bearingnoise when driving

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.

Yes. Since wheel bearings and brake rotors are aligned, failed bearings will loosen the brake rotors and cause violent wobbles.

Wheel bearingnoise when accelerating

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.

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.

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.

Unfortunately, the front wheel bearing replacement cost is much more expensive than its rear counterparts. The average labor cost runs from $350 to $550, while the pricing for replacement parts is $150 to $300.

My insightful guide, while not offering direct solutions to your budget-saving goal, can still deliver helpful advice regarding the cost and alternative replacement methods. Keep scrolling.

Once gathering the required supplies, you should prep the car beforehand to ensure maximum safety. To begin, park the vehicle on an even, level surface.

Replacing wheel bearings is a piece of cake and can save quite a few bucks, guaranteed you ALREADY have all these tools at home:

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.

While driving to mechanics is more convenient and also time-saving, feel free to replace the bearings at home if you already have all the required tools ready. Write me letters if any type of wheel bearing issues persist

In general, you may expect to invest $190 to $310 for parts associated with the rear bearing replacements. Meanwhile, the labor charges fluctuate from $250 to $400.

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.

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.

The average pricing range can stoop as low as $107-$147 (DIY) to as high as $400-$1000 (mechanic) – depending on whether you prefer DIY procedures or mechanic supports.

Douglas Mercer is an automotive service manager with 12-year experience at Stockton Wheel Service, Douglas excels in addressing intricate tire and wheel concerns as plating wheels, straightening bent wheels, widening stock wheels, and precisely correcting offset and back-spacing…

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.

Block the tires opposite your chosen wheel using a chock. For illustration, if you change the front bearings from the driver’s side, then remember to chock the rear wheels from the passenger’s.

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:

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

Not to mention, not everyone is familiar with the technical aspects of the vehicle; jumping blindly into it without proper research might end up costing you even more than it should have.