Frontwheel bearingnoise symptoms

Joe Simes is an ASE and Toyota master technician. After 20 years in the industry, Simes recently became a Pennsylvania Department of Education certified automotive technology instructor at North Montco Technical Career Center in Lansdale, Pennsylvania.

On modern front- and four-wheel drive cars, wheel bearings are a set of permanently sealed, precisely machined steel ball or straight roller bearings. The balls, or rollers, are encased in a “cage” that supports the bearings, allowing them to rotate freely.

Read on to learn the most common bad wheel bearing symptoms, based on my experience (50 years in the industry) and that of Joe Simes, a National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) certified and Toyota master technician. But first, a little background.

NOTE: Whether you DIY or your mechanic replaces the bearing, always install a new axle hub nut. Most hub nuts are prevailing torque fasteners, used on critical components (like securing axle shafts to hub bearings) where a loose nut could lead to disastrous consequences.

Catastrophicwheel bearingfailure

You can service or replace tapered wheel bearings yourself. Never reuse any wheel bearing that’s loose, worn, noisy or shows any signs of wear.

A bad wheel bearing can cause a tire/wheel to move or glide unevenly or sluggishly. It can also cause your brakes to drag, pulling your vehicle to one side when you try to stop.

On many vehicles, the ABS sensor is built into the wheel bearing, or it’s externally mounted adjacent to the spinning part of the bearing where the sensor measures vehicle speed. Damaged from a wobbly wheel bearing, the sensor will send erratic readings to the vehicle’s computer, illuminating the ABS light.

I noticed a low quiet grinding sometimes when I press my brakes and am going slow, then it turned to a high pitched squeal, sometimes. Since my job revolves around my car I asked a mechanic to look at it and just tell me what's wrong.

I go to my job to tell my boss I probably can't come in the next day so I can get them replaced, whatever, I really am stupid with cars. I start talking to the resident car guy at my job and he and he asked if he did this or that and said that there's no way he could know the wheel bearing are bad by looking at the back of the rim under the car (he dumbed it down for me)

What happens when a wheel bearing goes outafter

Absolutely not. It’s crucial to get bad wheel bearings diagnosed and replaced ASAP. If not, you could lose a wheel or get in an accident.

Friction from a failing wheel bearing produces heat. After driving, without touching the tires or wheels, carefully walk around your vehicle and use a non-touch thermometer to measure if one is hotter than the others.

How long willa wheel bearinglast after it starts making noise

You’ll hear clicking, cracking, grinding, snapping, or whining noises coming from your wheels or tires. They’ll increase when accelerating or turning.

According to Simes, a failing wheel bearing will likely produce a soft, faint vibration that’s felt before it’s heard. There may also be a vague rhythmic humming or droning sound that increases over time and with speed.

How long can you drive onabadwheel bearing

Unlike unbalanced tires, shaking caused by a bad wheel bearing should be obvious from the side of the car where the bearing is failing.

He got under the car, I explained what I typed earlier and in about 3 to 5 mins he came to the conclusion "your wheel bearings are bad, like, I recommend you not drive this car until you can get them replaced." All without ever hearing the brakes, taking off the tire or even lifting the car.

The average cost to replace a sealed wheel hub bearing is $350 per wheel. However, depending on the make and model, shop labor rate, the cost of the bearing itself and any additional damage, the total could exceed $1,000.

How to tell whichwheel bearingis bad while driving

According to him and his uncle both of which are grease monkies on their own said that my brake pads are worn pretty bad even though I just got them replaced like 3 or 4 months ago and had the car for 2 years before that and never changed them.

At this point idk what to do, ive been reading about some of this stuff and it said something about wheel bearings cause brake pads to ware faster but idk if he even saw them or just tried to take advantage of someone who would've gone to shop for blinker fluid if he was told to

Wheel bearingreplacement cost

But sealed wheel bearings are non-serviceable and should never be repaired, only replaced. Even if a pro suggests repairing a bearing, don’t let them. Trying to reuse a damaged wheel bearing can result in an accident and severe injury.

All this to ask, should I follow what the first mechanic said and replace the bearings, do I need new brake pads and call it a day or new rotors? And did the first guy try to screw me?

Simply stated, wheel bearings allow cars and trucks to run smoother and more efficiently by reducing friction and supporting vehicle weight. When they start to fail, you can usually tell.

What happens when a wheel bearing goes outwhile

We are no longer supporting IE (Internet Explorer) as we strive to provide site experiences for browsers that support new web standards and security practices.

Depending on the vehicle, you can save hundreds in labor replacing wheel bearings yourself. Most auto parts stores will lend you the specialty tools and equipment needed to replace a wheel bearing.

The cage and rollers are held together inside a hardened metal ring called a “race.” The seal keeps grease in and damaging water and debris out. Wheel bearings are installed inside, and secured to, the suspension, either by press fit, bolts or a snap-ring. Once mounted, the wheel bearing rides on the axle shaft, allowing the tire/wheel to spin effortlessly.