A bad wheel bearing can cause the brake rotor to wobble, which shoves the caliper piston back into its bore so that when you apply the brakes, you have unexpected pedal travel as a result – making it harder to stop or causing the vehicle to pull unexpectedly to one side – never a good thing in traffic.

At SPB, we specialize in precision ball bearings to suit varied size, shape, and material requirements. Our premium EZO Precision Ball Bearings are available with bore diameters from the extra-miniature 0.6 mm (0.0236″) to the large 90-mm (3.543″). They are available in chrome, steel, or stainless steel, allowing us to offer cost-effective options for every client.

Some may say that you can drive for up to a thousand miles with a failed wheel bearing—but the thing is, this is an arbitrary claim. There’s really no telling how long you can safely drive your vehicle in this state. It would depend on the severity of the damage to your wheel bearing, present road conditions, and other factors. So, it’s best not to push your luck.

Wheel bearings support the weight of the vehicle and allow the wheel/tire assembly to rotate when you’re traveling down the road. All four of your car’s wheels have wheel bearings and they are designed to last the life of the vehicle. In fact, many vehicles will travel hundreds of thousands of miles/kilometers and never need a wheel bearing replacement, but others may need one or more wheel bearings replaced over their lifetime.

Once again, there are other issues besides a bad wheel bearing that can cause steering wheel vibrations. A thorough diagnosis is needed to verify the cause of the concern.

A faulty wheel hub and bearing assembly can also cause a vibration felt in the steering wheel. Often, the sensation will change with vehicle speed or while the vehicle is cornering.

Ball bearings are critical components across many commercial, industrial, and scientific applications, accommodating rotation with extremely low friction and high durability. SPB-USA, L.L.C. is proud to offer US OEMs access to Sapporo Precision’s line of EZO ball bearings, which are well-recognized for their premium construction and superior performance characteristics.

Our inch series (open and shielded) and metric series (open and shielded) include flanged bearings of all sizes to ensure a secure fit in any application.

Ball bearingtypes

We supply durable miniature bearings in both metric and inch designations for maximum compatibility across applications.

Our extra-thin inch series (open and shielded) and metric series (open and shielded) also include flanged options to manage these more challenging space-constrained applications.

EZO’s anti-corrosive, heat-resistant steel bearings are available in sizes reaching 50 mm (1.9685″) in bore diameter to offer lasting performance in these applications.

Extra-thin flanged bearings combine the lightweight, space-saving features of our extra-thin bearings with the secure positioning of a flanged bearing. Adding a flange to an extra-thin housing facilitates positioning and prevents slippage when exposed to a thrust load. This feature allows extra-thin flanged bearings to be used safely in high-vibration settings, which might otherwise cause too much strain to an extra-thin housing. Examples of these applications include:

In these applications, extra-thin bearings offer the ideal strength-to-weight ratio to ensure excellent performance while keeping sizes down.

Rollerbearing

Wheel bearing failure is a potentially dangerous situation at any time, so have your vehicle towed to the nearest mechanic and have your faulty wheel bearings replaced right away. Vehicle safety should always come first.

Mechanics will find a safe, empty, smooth paved road, then listen carefully to the noise while swerving gently from side to side – typically when you swerve to the right, you’re increasing the load on the left side bearings, and vice versa. And again, while this is a good practice, it’s easy to be fooled into replacing the wrong bearing, even using this method – that’s why some tire shops replace bearings in pairs. If you use this method and believe the noise is tire related, you can move the front tires to the rear and see if the noise changes.

Selecting the right bearing for your application requires a careful consideration of rotating speed, load conditions and temperature in order to prevent premature bearing failure.

These components are available with bore diameters from 6-100 mm (0.236-3.937″) and outer diameters of 15-140 mm (0.591-5.512″), with different contact angles to facilitate a range of industrial applications.

A faulty wheel bearing can cause your vehicle to pull to one side during braking. This symptom can also be related to faulty brake components.

Ball bearingexamples

It’s worth noting that tire noise will usually change depending on the road surface. Wheel bearing noise, on the other hand, is consistent regardless of road surface and acceleration.

The CarParts.com Research Team is composed of experienced automotive and tech writers working with (ASE)-certified automobile technicians and automotive journalists to bring up-to-date, helpful information to car owners in the US. Guided by CarParts.com's thorough editorial process, our team strives to produce guides and resources DIYers and casual car owners can trust.

Pro Tip: If a noise happens after the tires are rotated on a front wheel drive vehicle, it may be due to the wear pattern on the tires, so be aware of that, too.

Flanged bearings are categorized based on their shape rather than the size of their rollers. Designed for applications with challenging positioning requirements, flange bearings feature a small lip along their outer ring that helps to mount, position, and lock the component in place. This feature is especially important in high-vibration environments where components may otherwise be prone to slippage. Some common uses for flanged bearings include:

What is ball bearingin friction

Remember, the wheel bearing not only allows the wheel/tire assembly to rotate along with the hub the wheel is bolted to, the bearing also carries the weight of the vehicle and maintains the spinning wheel’s axis by keeping it in a straight line. A failed wheel bearing won’t usually allow the wheel to come off completely unless the bearing has become so hot that the axle or spindle is glowing red. Not only can this cause a fire in the wheel well area, the wheel and hub can separate from the vehicle and… well, finish the thought. Granted, this is a very extreme case of a wheel bearing failure, but wheel bearings that have lost their grease can get extremely hot.

When you’re driving with the music cranked up, you may not notice the different sounds that your vehicle makes. But the moment you turn the radio off and notice a growling, humming, or rumbling noise coming from your wheel bearing, you’ll know there’s a problem.

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There are different kinds of wheel bearings depending on the year model and the design of the vehicle. Older rear wheel drive vehicles had cone type wheel bearings on the front wheels that could be removed, inspected, and packed with grease, and reinstalled with new seals. Some front-wheel drive vehicles have wheel bearings of this type on the rear. In other words, if a vehicle has cone-type bearings that can be removed, inspected, and repacked, it will always be on the NON-driving wheels – the ones that don’t propel the vehicle. Trailer wheels often have bearings of this type.

Can your car still run with a faulty bearing? The technical answer might be yes; some wheel bearings might continue to operate normally despite the vehicle being driven with one or more noisy bearings for a very long time. The problem is that since the noise begins gradually and slowly gets worse, you might not even notice the noise if your vehicle is noisy in other ways.

In the event that this happens under weather conditions that make the road slippery, immediately maneuver your vehicle to the nearest safe spot off the road.

Wheel bearings are in a hostile environment and are working very hard, but wheel bearings are very tough – they’re designed for the work they do. But product variability is a real thing, and again, some bearings fail while others never do.

Shop all 2004 Chevrolet Impala Wheel Bearings, Hubs & Seals products available now on NAPAonline and for pickup at your local NAPA Auto Parts store!

Ball bearingdiagram

Thank for pointing out that typo. The paragraph was supposed to read: Some front-wheel drive vehicles have wheel bearings of this type on the rear. We have updated the article.

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.

Richard McCuistian has worked for nearly 50 years in the automotive field as a professional technician, an instructor, and a freelance automotive writer for Motor Age, ACtion magazine, Power Stroke Registry, and others. Richard is ASE certified for more than 30 years in 10 categories, including L1 Advanced Engine Performance and Light Vehicle Diesel.

Since the wheel bearings keep the wheel and hub assembly spinning on an axis, if the wheel bearing is compromised to the point that it can no longer maintain that axis, driving with a faulty bearing can be extremely dangerous—especially at high speeds. Think about a wheel that starts wobbling because the bearing decided to completely come apart while you’re in freeway traffic. This can happen without warning if you’ve become accustomed to the bearing’s noise as it continues to warn you by getting louder.

Angular contact ball bearings are unique in that their inner and outer rings are displaced relative to one another, creating a contact angle in the direction of the load-bearing axis. This unique configuration allows angular contact bearings to accommodate heavy thrust loads along with radial loads. The larger the contact angle, the greater the axial stiffness and axial load-bearing capability. Our high-precision angular contact bearings are ideal for applications such as (but not limited to):

Extra-thin bearings are designed for maximum economy in applications with space limitations. Available in both open and shielded designs, extra-thin ball bearings feature the smallest possible difference between outer and inner diameter, keeping the components narrow and lightweight. The use of small or miniature rollers keeps friction low, although miniaturizing the housing does decrease load capacity compared to standard ball bearings. Applications that benefit from extra-thin ball bearings include:

You might have seen a vehicle pulling trailer that has had the bearings neglected to the point that the wheel gets hot enough to set the tire on fire – it can happen on your vehicle in extreme cases, but it’s rare.

If the seal that is part of the bearing fails, moisture and dirt can enter the bearing’s grease, compromising the grease’s ability to keep the load bearing elements (balls and races) lubricated. But there are times when a bearing destroys itself even though the grease is not compromised. Tiny particles of metal can begin to flake off of the races, and when this happens, those particles mix with the grease so that it becomes a grinding compound of sorts, creating a “snowball” effect whereby more metal flakes off and enters the grease charge and the bearing gets noisier with time.

What is ball bearingmade of

Wheel bearing noise coincides with the rotation of the tires. The sound typically increases with vehicle speed as well. In some instances, the noise may also change when you turn the steering wheel in one direction or the other.

By now, you may have an idea of how important wheel bearings are. Thankfully, there are signs that can indicate that your wheel bearings are going bad.

If your wheel bearing goes out while you’re on the road, it’s not advisable to keep driving. However, if there’s absolutely no alternative, make sure to maintain a slow and steady pace—do not accelerate or turn suddenly.

A worn-out wheel bearing may also make a high-pitched squealing sound while you’re driving. If you are able to observe these symptoms, have your vehicle checked right away. Even if your wheel bearings are not the culprit—there’s definitely something wrong with your vehicle.

The wheel bearing on a wheel usually consists of a pair bearing assemblies running side by side on the shaft or spindle – this keeps the spindle running straight, while a single row of balls or rollers might allow the wheel to wobble. Exceptions would be the non-tapered roller bearings on rear wheel drive vehicles, which will have only one bearing assembly at the wheel end of the axle, but the inboard end of the axle on those units is splined to the differential assembly, which is spinning in its own set of tapered roller bearings.

The older style cone shaped bearings have a series of tapered rollers in a cage with a window for each roller to keep them evenly spaced while they ride between inner and outer races. But most modern sealed bearings have steel balls with inside and outside races.

Unlike most ball bearings, thrust bearings are designed to withstand both thrust loads and axial loads, but not radial loads. They can rotate at high speeds and support large axial loads during operation. Our thrust bearings are available with or without a raceway and are commonly found within industrial machining equipment, with typical use cases including (but not limited to):

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How doballbearings work

Miniature bearings are defined by their very small rolling elements, with bore diameters no larger than 10 mm (0.3937″). Bearings of this size enable high-speed rotation with minimal noise or vibration. Thanks to their excellent frictional torque performance, these bearings are well-suited to a range of high-speed motor applications, including (but not limited to):

Note by Richard McCuistian, ASE-certified mechanic: I have personally seen a Crown Victoria that was making a noise I would have sworn was coming from the left rear axle bearing, but after removing and inspecting that bearing (which is difficult on a rear wheel drive vehicle), I discovered that the noise was actually originating from the left front tire. And I had nearly 40 years of automotive experience at the time.

It’s this abnormal sound that’s the most obvious sign something is wrong with your wheel bearings. Of course, because other issues, such as cupped tires, can mimic a bad wheel bearing, you’ll want to diagnose the sound properly.

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Extra-miniature bearings are even smaller than standard miniature bearings, with bore diameters ranging from just 0.6-2.5 mm (0.0236-0.0984″). They are sometimes called instrument bearings because of their suitability for high-precision measuring applications, although their ability to withstand exceptionally high speeds also makes extra-miniature bearings useful for motors and gearboxes. Potential applications for extra-miniature bearings include:

Most EZO Precision Ball Bearings are made from a degassed, high-carbon chromium steel, which offers a combination of low torque, low noise, and high efficiency. However, we also offer stainless steel bearings to accommodate applications that expose bearings to moisture or corrosive chemicals, including heavy-duty applications requiring large-diameter rollers. Our bearings are found in standalone medical and industrial equipment of all kinds, including (but not limited to):

Also, by replacing a bad bearing early on, you can also save yourself a lot of money by avoiding possible major repairs.

Modern vehicles have sealed wheel bearings that cannot be disassembled without destroying the wheel bearing assembly in the process, and on vehicles with bearings like those, you only know a bearing is bad when it begins to make noise. That’s the earliest indication of a bad wheel bearing, and front wheel bearings (both on front wheel drive as well as rear wheel drive vehicles) are the most prone to fail on modern vehicles.

Pro Tips are nuggets of information direct from ASE-certified automobile technicians working with CarParts.com, which may include unique, personal insights based on their years of experience working in the automotive industry. These can help you make more informed decisions about your car.

All SKF high temperature deep groove ball bearings are lubricated for the life of the bearing, except for open VA201 bearings, which require relubrication. The ...

What is ball bearingused for

Loose wheel bearings can throw your car’s alignment off, leading to abnormal tire wear. There are, of course, many other problems that can create the same, undesirable results.  So, you’ll want to diagnose the issue thoroughly before condemning one or more of the wheel bearings

Whether your application calls for extra-miniature flanged bearings or large, open ball bearings, Sapporo Precision’s line of EZO Precision Ball Bearings contains exactly what you need for reliable and lasting performance. Sapporo’s ISO 9000-, 9001-, and 14001-certified facilities manufacture ball bearings to the highest standards of quality, with clients trusting EZO bearings to support everything from sensitive measuring devices to medical equipment and high-powered motors.

Ball bearings are simple but powerful components that minimize friction in rotational applications ranging from industrial machinery to office equipment. Spherical ball bearings have only minimal contact with their containing races, allowing them to transfer radial or axial loads with rapid, fluid motion. A variety of housing shapes and lubrication options improve versatility while promoting performance across a long working life.

Our extra-miniature chrome and stainless steel bearings provide lasting performance in these and similarly demanding applications.

Another tricky element of wheel bearing noise is the need to pinpoint which wheel bearing is making the noise. Sometimes even professional mechanics will struggle with this, and there are special listening devices shops use to pinpoint which bearing is making the noise. Some tire shops will replace both front bearings if there is a bearing noise coming from the front of the vehicle; not a bad practice, actually.

One tricky thing about wheel bearing noise is that a bad tire can make almost exactly the same noise as a bad bearing; you don’t want to replace a wheel bearing for a noise concern when all you need is a new tire.

This paragraph doesn’t make sense: Older rear wheel drive vehicles had cone type wheel bearings on the front wheels that could be removed, inspected, and packed with grease, and reinstalled with new seals. Some rear wheel drive vehicles have wheel bearings of this type on the rear. In other words, if a vehicle has cone-type bearings that can be removed, inspected, and repacked, it will always be on the NON-driving wheels – the ones that don’t propel the vehicle.

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I have personally seen a Crown Victoria that was making a noise I would have sworn was coming from the left rear axle bearing, but after removing and inspecting that bearing (which is difficult on a rear wheel drive vehicle), I discovered that the noise was actually originating from the left front tire. And I had nearly 40 years of automotive experience at the time.

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In cases like that, or when you just decide to keep driving until the failure is complete, the bearing itself will decide for you when it must be changed, and it can do so in very unpleasant ways and never at a good time. In other words, there are instances, when left unattended to, a faulty wheel bearing can create hazardous conditions, such as the following:

Is your ABS light on, and you do not know what is causing it? A faulty wheel bearing can be a possibility. On some vehicles, the ABS sensor or encoder ring is integrated into the wheel hub and bearing assembly. As such, a failure of the wheel bearing can trigger the ABS light.