Replacing a wheel bearing can vary in difficulty depending on your vehicle’s make and model. Some bearings are relatively easy to replace, while others may require specialized tools and knowledge.

A grinding sound coming from the tires indicates overused bearings that don’t have enough lubrication to avoid grinding friction between metal parts.

All types of wheel bearings display similar symptoms when they are failing. Here’s how to tell which wheel bearing is bad:

Any system in an automobile has several small components that have to work and be integrated together for the car to run without any trouble.

How much grease to put in a bearing

In conclusion, over-greasing is detrimental to bearings due to increased friction, heat generation, pressure build-up, inadequate lubrication, and higher maintenance costs. Proper greasing practices, following manufacturer guidelines or using ultrasound assisted lubrication to ensure the right amount of grease are crucial for ensuring optimal bearing performance, longevity, and reliability. The use of environmentally acceptable lubricants is highly recommended.

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Wheel bearings are critical for the wheels to work harmoniously with the hub and tires. There is one bearing for each wheel and it’s rare for all of them to fail at the same time. How to tell which wheel bearing is bad?

It’s not recommended to drive with a bad wheel bearing. Continued driving with a failing wheel bearing can lead to safety hazards, further damage to your vehicle, and more expensive repairs.

The condition of the tires is another easy way to tell that there is something wrong with the bearings. If a tire wears out unevenly, it’s most likely because the attached wheel bearing is damaged.

Wheel bearings also display some symptoms when they cannot function to their full ability and are on the verge of failure. But how to tell which wheel bearing is bad: front or back?

The hub rolls on a metal axle shaft in order to lessen friction during the rotation of the wheels. These ball-shaped bearings are the most common type in today’s vehicles. There are also precision ball bearings and roller bearings.

Additionally, the excess grease can interfere with proper lubricant distribution, preventing the effective flow of grease to the critical contact areas of the bearing. Consequently, inadequate lubrication occurs in certain regions, leading to increased localised stress and wear. In extreme cases, it will stop the ball or roller from turning, which will create a scraping effect, leading to direct metal-on-metal contact inside the bearing.

However, if the reason is a broken bearing, it will eventually lead to loose brakes. Whenever you step on the brakes, the car acts like it has a mind of its own and pulls in a specific direction. Examine the bearings of the side the vehicle pulls to.

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When this happens, check each wheel by jacking up the vehicle. If the wheel assembly moves back and forth, the wheel bearing attached to it is definitely damaged.

Over greasing bearings is a much bigger problem than we realise. Over greasing is a common issue that can have detrimental effects on bearings, leading to reduced performance, premature failure, and increased maintenance costs. While grease plays a vital role in lubricating and protecting bearings, excessive grease can cause several problems. Several studies concluded that over greasing is responsible for damaging as many bearings as under-greasing.

Apart from a defective bearing, this problem could result from a number of faulty components including damaged brakes, worn-out rotor, defective equalizer, or a busted rotor.

Hope you are no more confused about how to tell which wheel bearing is bad. You just have to pick up the symptom and perform a simple task to find out which bearing is to blame for.

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A wheel bearing is a metal ring housing a number of steel balls together. The ring, known as a race, fits inside a hub, which is a hollow metal piece at the center of the wheels.

Furthermore, over-greasing increases the internal pressure within the bearing. Excessive grease fills the available space and displaces the air, creating pressure build-up. This pressure can cause the seals to rupture or the lubricant to leak out, compromising the integrity of the bearing system.

Remember that if you suspect a bad wheel bearing, it’s essential to have it inspected and replaced by a qualified mechanic to maintain your vehicle’s safety and performance.

Lastly, over-greasing can have financial implications. Applying excessive grease consumes more lubricant, leading to higher material and maintenance costs. Additionally, the increased wear and premature failure caused by over-greasing require more frequent bearing replacements and repairs, resulting in increased downtime and associated expenses.

Grantham Ventures (Australia) Pty Ltd Trading as Grantham Industrial Lubricants was established in 2005 and is an Australian Owned and Operated company, specializing in supplying a comprehensive range of quality products and services at competitive prices to cover the full range lubrication applications. In June 2019 we were appointed as the master distributor of MotulTech products in Australia. MotulTech is the industrial lubricant division of the French-based Motul oil. Motul oil was established in 1853 and built a reputation as a leading innovator of new quality products. Some examples include: the first oil company to develop a multi-grade motor oil; the first oil company to develop a semi-synthetic motor oil; the first oil company to develop a fully synthetic motor oil and now the first oil company to develop a hybrid-specific motor oil.​ The MotulTech Industrial oil range consists of more than 200 specialised products including Bio-degradable and fire-resistant hydraulic oils, a full range of lubricants for food production, the Baraldi extrusion and high pressure die casting products and a normal full range of general industrial lubricants. Grantham Lubricants can supply the whole range at competitive prices.

Wheel bearings support the whole weight of a vehicle and they don’t have any constant source of lubrication. For these reasons, they suffer lots of abuse and wear out over time.

Bearinggreasinginterval

Over greasing bearingssymptoms

Just grab the tires and rotate the wheels. Effortless spinning means they are fine but if one of them feels stiff, it must have a broken bearing.

The lifespan of a wheel bearing varies, but they usually last between 85,000 to 100,000 miles (137,000 to 161,000 kilometers) or more under normal conditions. However, factors like driving habits and road conditions can affect their longevity.

Unstable wheels could be the aftereffect of some other problems too like a broken suspension or a misaligned chassis. A mechanic can pinpoint the exact reason by doing a road test.

Bearing failure due tooverlubrication

Another damaged bearing-related symptom is a wobbly wheel. In that case, the car feels loose or you find the steering less responsive, to be precise, at the time of driving.

Effects ofoverlubrication

Well, we’re going to discuss how to find out the bad one and what they actually do in keeping the wheel assembly together.

Before going deeper into the bad bearing symptoms and the ways to single out the faulty one, you should know what it is and its functions.

While it’s not mandatory to replace both wheel bearings at the same time, it’s often recommended to do so. If one wheel bearing has failed, the other may not be far behind in terms of wear and tear. Replacing both can help ensure even performance and safety.

If a bearing is the culprit, the noise turns faster with acceleration. To identify which bearing is responsible, reduce the car’s speed and sway it gently.

Firstly, over-greasing results in increased friction and heat generation. When there is an excessive amount of grease in a bearing, it creates resistance to rotation. This resistance generates additional heat, which can elevate the operating temperature of the bearing. High temperatures can cause the grease to degrade, leading to a loss of its lubricating properties and the formation of abrasive particles. The increased friction and heat also accelerate wear and tear on the bearing components, reducing their lifespan.

The noise intensifies when the vehicle accelerates and it comes from either the front or backside, showing the position of the bad bearing.

Sometimes, it could be a rumbling noise when you are driving on a straight road and it escalates once you make a turn. This is how to tell which wheel bearing is bad by turning as the opposite side of the turn is the affected area.

The cost of replacing a wheel bearing varies depending on factors such as the vehicle’s make and model, labor costs in your area, and whether you’re using OEM or aftermarket parts. On average, it can cost anywhere from $100 to $600 per wheel.