The most easily identifiable and common symptom of bad wheel bearings is audible. But it can be confusing. For example, the source of a humming noise can be linked to other issues, such as tires and the CV joint.

To avoid having car owners overpaying and get a fair price for a wheel bearing replacement, we use real-time data of thousands of car makes and model data, local labour prices for wheel bearing repairs and replacements and part prices to provide an instant fair quote. Simply enter your vehicle registration number and postcode to get an instant price for a wheel bearing replacement for your car.

The average cost of replacing a wheel bearing is £175, with prices ranging from £120 and £300. The cost will vary depending on whether the front or rear or if all of the wheel bearings need replacing. In some cases, if the faulty wheel bearings have caused additional damage to other parts of the suspension or transmission, then the necessary parts will need to be replaced which could affect the overall cost of the repair. The exact price of the wheel bearing replacement depends largely on your car and the parts recommended by the manufacturer.

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Wheel bearings are important components of a car's suspension system. They allow the wheels to rotate smoothly and with little friction. Wheel bearings typically last around 80,000 miles, but they can start to wear down sooner if the car is driven in harsh conditions or if the suspension is not maintained and serviced as needed.

If one tire wears out faster than the others, it could be a sign that the wheel bearings are worn. However, it also could be a sign the tire is improperly inflated (too much air pressure or not enough), the tires are improperly aligned, or the vehicle has damaged or worn suspension components.

If you hear a clicking sound that increases in frequency as the vehicle accelerates, there could be a problem with the wheel hub assembly.

Ultimately, the time that the job will take will depend on a number of factors, like your vehicle's make and model, year, as well as other factors. Select your car at the top of this page for information on job time and cost for your vehicle through ClickMechanic.

However, luxury cars are more expensive to repair. Do note that if bearings go bad at one wheel, replacing the bearings at the other wheel on the same axle is unnecessary. Don’t let someone talk you into work that is not needed. Get the price estimate for wheel bearing replacement for your make and model of car.

The cost to replace one front-wheel hub assembly varies widely. Among the variables are the vehicle brand and model, the garage’s labor rate, and the cost of parts. The average out-the-door wheel bearing replacement cost without taxes is about $350 per wheel.

Wheel bearings connect a car’s wheels to the axles. They allow wheels to turn with minimal friction. Though wheel bearings are low-maintenance parts, they are important safety components of a vehicle’s braking, steering, and suspension systems. The one-piece hub assembly, between the drive axle and the brake disc or drums, incorporates the hub, wheel bearings, ABS (anti-lock braking system) wheel speed sensor, and mounting flange.

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The anti-lock warning light may illuminate if the ring, tire, and wheel wobble, the wheel’s speed sensor is no longer operating properly, and the ABS may operate sporadically or not at all. See a professional for repair.

Worn bearings may cause a vehicle to pull to the left or right when brakes are applied. The direction the vehicle pulls signals where the worn bearings are located, on the left or right side of the vehicle. However, this can also signal brake rotor or brake caliper problems.

The best practice is to replace all four wheel bearings at the same time or at the very least should be replaced in pairs, ie front or rear. This ensures that all four bearings are the same age and have been through the same amount of wear and tear. Additionally, if one wheel bearing needs to be replaced, the other three are likely to need replacement fairly soon. You can, of course, choose to replace one at a time but it’s not advisable and is often not the most economical choice in the long run.

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Driving with bad wheel bearings impacts the safety of a vehicle, and it could cause a serious car accident. We do not advise driving on them when they fail and recommend getting them checked out as soon as possible. Bad wheel bearings can damage things like your hub, the vehicle’s constant velocity joint (CV joint), or the automatic transmission.

Most vehicles today use sealed hub bearing assemblies that contain roller bearings. While we don’t address these, older cars used tapered roller bearings, which required servicing and preload adjusting to ensure the right amount of end play or axial clearance.

If a wheel bearing starts to fail, it will make a grinding or growling noise while the vehicle is in motion. This noise will usually get louder as the bearing wears down. In some cases, the noise can be similar to that of brakes grinding. Once a wheel bearing fails, it must be replaced as soon as possible to avoid further damage to the suspension system.

More noticeable at low speeds, a broken wheel bearing will cause vibrations which are typically coupled with a grinding sound.

If you hear a grinding or growling noise coming from the wheels, these are signs that your wheel bearings need to be replaced.

Editor’s Note: This article has been updated for accuracy since it was originally published. Rick Kranz contributed to this report.

Technicians can check for wheel wobble by putting the vehicle on a lift and manually checking for wheel movement. Typically, it would be impossible to shake the wheel and tire. However, if it moves, the hub assembly needs immediate attention. The tire and wheel can literally come off the vehicle at any time, at any speed, if you don’t repair your vehicle.

In this story, we’ll tell you quick facts to know, such as what causes a bad wheel bearing, how long you can drive on one, and the estimated replacement cost of a wheel bearing as you maintain your vehicle.

A front wheel bearing replacement on average takes just over 1 hour, but can take anywhere from under 1 hour to 2 hours. This is because replacing front wheel bearings tends to be a bit more time-consuming than replacing rear wheel bearings as it may require removal and reassembly of additional car parts. A rear wheel bearing replacement takes on average under 1 hour but can range from under 1 hour to 2 hours.

Imagine driving on the freeway when the left front tire and wheel suddenly break off, sending your out-of-control vehicle skidding across several lanes of 65 mph traffic. This is not an exaggeration. This is reality, and can happen if you fail to notice the signs the wheel bearings are deteriorating and need immediate repairs. Your wheel bearing might be bad if you hear unusual sounds like humming, squeaking, or clicking. Some experts say a bad wheel bearing can sound like a bird chirping. Also, if your car wobbles or pulls to one side, you will want to get it checked.

If a wheel bearing becomes faulty, it will usually make a grinding noise that will become louder as the vehicle moves faster. The vehicle may also feel like it is shaking, the noise may also vary in pitch as you turn the steering and travel around corners. When you notice any of these symptoms, it’s important to get it inspected as soon as possible as continuing to drive can be dangerous and cause further damage to the vehicle.

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A wheel bearing replacement is a complex job that requires automotive repair skills and specialised tools as it involves working with a vehicle's suspension, braking, and steering components.

Your location can also be a key factor in determining the price of a wheel bearing replacement. For example, average hourly labour rates and demand in cities like London is around £50-£100 while in towns with lower demand, the labour rates can range from £35-£50. The type of mechanic, for example, a mobile mechanic vs a dealership garage technician can also affect the total cost of a wheel bearing replacement.

Wheel bearings are theoretically engineered to last the life of the vehicle. There is no maintenance schedule for replacing wheel bearings, and there is no constant source of lubrication. However, they can be damaged, leading to failure.

“The good news is most of the time, a vehicle will let you know way before a failure ever happens,” said Gary Hardesty, Kelley Blue Book’s in-house service and maintenance expert and an A.S.E. certified master technician. “The key is to listen to your car. Most times, a failing wheel bearing will exhibit a growling type of noise that changes with vehicle speed. The faster the car (goes), the faster the frequency of the growl.”

Your vehicle will signal that it’s time to replace a failed wheel bearing. For example, if you hear unusual sounds like humming or clicking, then your bearing might be bad. Watch out and listen for these signs and symptoms:

Replacing wheel bearings is definitely worth it to extend the life of your tyres and other suspension components. You can replace all 4 bearings or just the one if needed.

Hardesty cautions that if you think something is wrong, don’t wait to get it diagnosed: “The longer you wait, the more it will cost as other components may be damaged by a wheel bearing.”

Kelley Blue Book® Values and pricing are based in part on transactions in your area. Your ZIP code also helps us find local deals and highlight other available offers.

Unless you are a qualified mechanic with the required skills, training and equipment to do the job, we strongly recommend a wheel bearing replacement is only carried out by a professional mechanic. ClickMechanic can help get you a vetted and local mechanic to carry out the work. Just enter your postcode and your car's registration number at the top of this page and select the work needed to get an instant fixed price up front.

The typical sounds of worn-out wheel bearings are squealing and/or growling. The sound intensifies as vehicle speed increases. Try to pinpoint the location of the noise because it will identify the location of the worn-out bearings.

The bearings are tightly packed in a grease-filled, waterproof, sealed metal ring. This housing, called a race, is located inside the hub, and each wheel has one. Wheel bearings have a Herculean responsibility: They are engineered to support the vehicle’s entire weight.

If there is excessive play in the steering, meaning the steering seems less responsive or less precise than normal, worn bearings could be causing the problem. Also, this could be a sign the vehicle needs a wheel alignment. If you have any of the signs listed above, visit a dealer service or auto repair shop.

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The original equipment bearings on your vehicle are engineered for specific loads. Those bigger and wider tires look cool, as do tires with lower tread walls. But they place higher loads on the wheel bearings, possibly resulting in accelerated wear. That could present a safety issue if your wheel bearings fail.

Bad wheel bearings can cause the steering wheel to vibrate. The intensity increases as the vehicle speed increases and the vehicle turns to the left or right. However, the vibration could be linked to an out-of-round tire (there could be a flat spot on the tire) or a tire that is no longer balanced. Another cause is damaged or worn suspension components.

It is recommended that you do not drive with a damaged wheel bearing. Continuing to drive is not only extremely dangerous but can also cause extensive damage to the hub, axle and other associated parts.

Over time, a damaged wheel bearing can affect your car’s steering, as the weight of the bearings, or any defects in the race can cause your wheels to not sit level with the road. This can lead to uneven and premature tyre wear, and your car behaving unpredictably when turning corners. Once the problem has been diagnosed, a wheel bearing replacement should be carried out as soon as possible. * Mechanic will loosen the lug nuts of the wheel where the bearing has been affected and remove the wheel * Mechanic will remove the brake disc and caliper if needed * Mechanic will remove the hub nut holding the wheel bearings assembly * Mechanic will press out old/ damaged bearing * Area will be inspected, cleaned and new wheel bearing will be installed * Mechanic will reinstall all parts as required