Rear wheel hub bearingreplacement

The hub is responsible for connecting the wheel to the axle of the vehicle. It also houses the wheel bearings. This metal casing typically comes in the shape of a disc with a slightly protruding midsection containing several studs. There’s also a hole in the middle for the bearing.

The seals that sit between your bearings and the drive shaft of your vehicle exist to keep out substances and materials that could cause the bearings to wear out faster—dirt, water, and other debris from the road being some of the most common.

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Below, we’ve put together a diagram showing the different parts of wheel bearings and hubs, along with a description of each main component. Ready? Then let’s dive in.

Rear wheel hubassembly diagram

Wheel bearings and hub assemblies play a vital role in the performance of your vehicle, but they’re easy to overlook. After all, these parts are small and hard to see at a glance—so they don’t always get much thought. Still, you need to understand what they do and buy high-quality replacement parts when the wheel bearings in your vehicle wear out if you want to keep it running properly.

Rear wheel BearingBike

Each wheel is equipped with a wheel bearing, a set of steel balls or rollers held by a cage in a ring of metal called a “race.” As the wheels spin, they create friction and heat. Wheel bearings help to reduce the friction, heat and protect the wheels and tires. The wheel bearing lies inside of the hub assembly. The hub is what holds the lug nuts that are used to secure the tires to the wheels. Hubs are made to support the weight of the vehicle, travel over all kinds of road conditions, turn corners while facilitating the wheels as they spin at many revolutions per minute.

After performing for thousands of miles, it is common for wheel bearings to wear out. The perpetual revolution of the wheels combined with the weight of the vehicle eventually leads to worn wheel bearings, making them unable to let the wheels roll effectively. In the past, wheel bearings could be repacked as they were more accessible. However, modern vehicles are equipped with sealed units to keep debris, dust, and moisture at bay. Sealed units last longer as they are able to prevent contamination and reduce premature wear. However, because they are one collective piece, they cannot be serviced, cleaned, or greased. Once the assembly is worn, the entire rear wheel or front wheel bearing requires replacement, often along with the hub, as well.

The major components of your wheel bearing and hub assembly are the bearings, hub, rotor, seal, and the drive shaft itself. Each of these parts must work in concert with the others to manage the forces that braking and cornering place on your vehicle during regular use.

Rightrear wheel bearingreplacement cost

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Wheel HubAssembly Kit

Up to $150 off ($75 per axle).   Includes $50 instant savings plus $25 Mail-In-Rebate for FMP purchases (per axle). Most cars/light trucks.  Some exclusions apply. Must present coupon at time of service.  Cannot be combined with any other offer.  Requires installation. See store for complete details. Valid 1/1/25 to 2/28/25. Code: BRKM50

Understanding where your wheel bearings, hubs, and related components are—and how they function—is vital for keeping your vehicle in proper working order. Use what you’ve learned above to keep a closer eye on these important parts and replace them with high-quality aftermarket components when required.

Drive shafts can become damaged in several ways, including when the wheel bearings or hub in your vehicle have begun to wear down. In this case, you’ll probably notice excessive vibrations when accelerating or braking, and might hear a knocking noise.

Your vehicle has many components that rub together and create an incredible amount of friction. As you know, when there’s friction, there’s heat. Lubricants help reduce friction and cool components and extend their life. A bearing, be it wheel or any other is used to reduce friction. Without the wheel bearing in your car, the wheel would likely slide as opposed to roll. When wheel bearings begin to breakdown and fail to roll, drivers may notice significant differences as they drive. Get to know what the wheel bearing is, its purpose, and what the symptoms of a bad front or rear wheel bearing are.

The drive shaft of your vehicle is responsible for moving torque from the engine into the wheels, facilitating movement. The transmission sends kinetic energy from the engine through the shaft into the differential, rotating the axle shafts (which are connected to the wheel hubs on each side of the car).

Rear Wheel hub BearingAssembly

However, these seals also keep the grease used to lubricate your bearings inside the hub assembly. This grease is vital for prolonging the lifespan of your hub and bearings, so these seals need to be checked often and replaced if they have deteriorated.

The rotors on your vehicle help you brake while driving. Pressing the brakes in your vehicle causes the calipers to squeeze your brake pads against the rotors, creating friction that eventually causes the wheels to stop spinning and bring your car to a halt.

Rear wheel bearingreplacement cost

When wheel bearings lose their ability to roll, your wheels will generate more heat than usual and the ride may not be as comfortable. Where once the ride was smooth, you may detect shakiness and other disturbances. If your vehicle exhibits any of the symptoms below, your wheel bearings may need replacement:

autozonewheelbearing/hub assembly

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Below, you’ll see a diagram showing the location of the wheel bearings and hub assemblies on a typical car. The hub, bearing, and rotor on each wheel is connected via a seal to the drive shaft (through the axle shaft). The construction of all wheel bearing and hub assemblies will look similar even when comparing large to small vehicles. For example, a Ford F-150 wheel bearing will be bigger, but look similar to a Ford Explorer wheel bearing.

Bearings generally come in the form of balls or tapers within a metal ring that rides on the shaft of the axle and fits into the hub. Due to the nature of the forces placed on wheel bearings, they are more prone to failure than many of the other components we’ll discuss here.

The purpose of wheel bearings is to help the wheels of your vehicle turn with minimal friction when torque is sent to the wheels from the engine. When a wheel bearing begins to wear out, it becomes more difficult for the corresponding wheel to rotate, which can eventually cause handling problems and even permanent suspension damage.

You’ll normally hear a rattling sound for some time before this occurs—so you’ll get plenty of warning. Still, it’s vital to replace a worn-out wheel bearing as soon as possible to prevent performance issues and more costly mechanical problems.

If your vehicle exhibits any symptoms of failed or worn wheel bearings, don’t hesitate to bring your vehicle to your nearest Sun Devil Auto. Did you know that with each Sun Devil Auto oil change we include a complete multi-point inspection? As part of our inspection, our Technicians check front and rear wheel bearings for excessive play or movement. If any issue is identified within the wheel assembly, you’ll be alerted so that the issue can be repaired properly. We’re a family-owned and operated shop that has been in business for over forty years. Our commitment to providing quality auto care with experienced and certified technicians and top of the line equipment, at a competitive price is what makes our business the dealership alternative. Visit your neighborhood Sun Devil Auto today for all your automotive needs.

Driving with a missing or faulty wheel bearing is hazardous. It is recommended that if your vehicle experiences any of the symptoms of a worn bearing, you have a trusted technician inspect the wheel assembly. If wheel bearings come loose or detach from the vehicle, it can create a very dangerous situation on the road. Wheel bearings play a vital role in keeping the wheel attached to your vehicle. Without wheel bearings, your wheel is essentially unattached. This can be very dangerous, especially while traveling on highways at high speeds. Losing a wheel could result in loss of control of your vehicle, putting yourself and other drivers in harm’s way.

Because they’re absorbing so much energy on such a frequent basis, brake rotors wear out regularly and need to be replaced. However, driving on worn-out brake rotors can feel very similar to driving on a dead wheel hub. You may experience a wobbling feeling while braking—however, in the case of a dead hub or worn-out bearings, this may also be accompanied by a slight pull to the side with the damaged component. Take your vehicle to a mechanic to determine the exact cause of the problem and find out what part needs to be replaced.

Hubs can become stressed when the bearings they house fail. Since a worn out hub can make your vehicle extremely difficult to handle, you’ll want to replace your hubs as soon as possible whenever this happens.