The factory wheel bearings in your car do not require periodic maintenance and are, in most cases, designed to last the life of your vehicle. However, the grease inside the bearings could get contaminated by prolonged exposure to rain, mud, road salts, and sand. Meanwhile, overloading the vehicle or driving over speed bumps, curbs, or potholes could prematurely damage the wheel bearings.

The wheel bearings consist of steel ball bearings inside the wheel hub. They enable the wheels to roll smoothly and silently while providing anchor points for the vehicle's steering, suspension, wheels, and brake components. When a wheel bearing goes bad, the affected wheel will wobble or move unnecessarily, wreaking havoc on the many undercarriage parts that rely on proper alignment to work correctly. As the problem worsens, the grinding or squealing noises get louder, which means the wheel bearings are near total failure.

Wheel bearingreplacement cost

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How long will awheel bearinglast after it starts making noise

The good news is that you don't need to replace the wheel bearings on all four wheels if only one side has worn out, but replacing the wheel bearings as a pair wouldn't be a bad idea. If the wheel bearing in the right wheel hub has gone bad, it would be better to also replace the bearings in the left wheel, but it all depends on your budget.

If you’re driving along and notice a rumbling or grinding noise coming from one of the corners of the car or your steering feels more wobbly than normal, it’s possible you have a faulty or worn wheel bearing. If your tyres are wearing unevenly then this could also be a warning sign, although this is also associated with other more common issues such as under/over inflated tyres or incorrect wheel alignment.

Frontwheel bearing sound when driving

Since the noise from a worn bearing won’t suddenly arise, it might be hard to tell - but if someone else rides in your car they might notice the noise straight away because they haven’t gotten used to it yet. Either way you will usually be made aware of the issue at MOT time or when getting your car serviced by a mechanic.

Hardened metal is used to make wheel bearings and they are very strong - easily able to handle the car’s corner weight. They last a long time, but on older cars or ones with high mileage, they are still something that is susceptible to wear, just like brakes or a clutch.

How to tell whichwheel bearingis bad whiledriving

It won't be hard to tell if your vehicle has broken wheel bearings. The most common symptoms of worn wheel bearings are squealing or grinding noises that get louder the faster you go. The noise could emanate from the front or back or the left and right of the vehicle, depending on which wheel bearing is going bad. Sometimes, you might notice a humming noise or clicking sounds coming from the front or rear wheels, which could be mistaken for tire roar or road noise.

However you fix them, it’s essential to get your bearings repaired if they are noisy or worn. If you just turn up the radio and ignore the rumbling they will damage and wear other, more expensive components, burn more fuel, and could even be a safety issue.

There’s no need to worry if you think you have a worn wheel bearing, as these parts are not expensive to buy nor will it take an experienced mechanic much time to get one changed. Our guide explains everything you need to know about wheel bearings and what to do if they are faulty.

No, we do not recommend driving a car with faulty or noisy wheel bearings. The wheels could fall off the vehicle while driving, which is not a great way to start your day. Broken wheel bearings will cause the affected wheel to wobble incessantly while the car is moving, and this will cause various issues with the steering, suspension, and brakes, like vibrations when braking or turning the wheel.

It’s also worth comparing the prices of a wheel bearing kit and a complete hub assembly. It might be that the time and effort needed to remove and replace the bearings alone means it will make more sense to swap the whole hub - especially if you are paying for a mechanic’s labour time.

The price of parts will depend on all sorts of factors, but you might be pleasantly surprised as the same bearings might be used across many different cars. Online suppliers are likely to be cheaper than a dealer or motor factor, but make sure they’re reputable as fake branded car components are worryingly common. Also make sure you are ordering the right part – there can be a bewildering array of bearings, with differences existing even across the same model and production year of car.

If you can hear it, the noise is likely to be a grating, grinding or rumbling which changes with the road speed and doesn’t change when you blip the throttle or dip the clutch.

Frontwheel bearingnoise symptoms

We had a bruised and battered Mitsubishi Mirage G4 with unusually high miles, and we had to replace the wheel bearings thrice during its useful life. In one instance, the right rear wheel was wobbling badly and making loud, grinding noises, whether moving fast or creeping forward from a stop.

Badwheel bearingsymptoms

If you want to attempt a fix on a noisy wheel bearing yourself, check a workshop manual or online guide for instructions. You may find you can just pack the existing bearing with grease and tighten it up, especially on older cars. If you need to replace parts, think carefully before you attempt it yourself as you’ll need some pretty serious tools to undo seized nuts and press out the bearing.

To do a DIY diagnosis, you’ll need to jack the car up and spin the wheels individually to see which one is noisy. It’s also worth rocking the wheel from side to side and up and down to check for clonks and movement.

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Wheel bearingnoise quick fix

Wheel bearingnoisewhenaccelerating

For instance, a faulty wheel bearing may cause uneven tire wear, wobbly steering, and an illuminated ABS (Anti-lock Braking System) warning light. An easy way to check for broken wheel bearings is to place the car on a lift or raise the affected side with a jack and a heavy-duty jack stand. Next, grab the affected wheel from both sides and try shaking it. The wheel should not move unnecessarily if the wheel bearing is solid. However, replacing the wheel bearing is necessary if it shakes or moves in its axis.

If you are struggling to find the right part – for example with a classic or specialist car – it will be worth checking a directory to see if there is a bearing supplier near to you. These businesses will usually have a counter where an expert will be able to identify a part by sight – and they’ll be cheap too.

Please contact the dealer for a personalised quote, including terms and conditions. Quote is subject to dealer requirements, including status and availability. Illustrations are based on personal contract hire, 9 month upfront fee, 48 month term, 8000 miles annually, inc VAT, excluding fees. Vehicle returned at term end.

Noisy or broken wheel bearings are a safety concern for any vehicle. It also makes some vehicles almost undrivable. If you notice strange, grinding noises while driving or feel one side of the vehicle wobbling, bring the car to a mechanic as soon as necessary before the issue worsens or the wheels fall off.

You may also notice a clicking noise and perhaps a vibration through the steering wheel, caused because the worn bearing allows the wheel to wobble. If you are at this stage, it’s really time to get it fixed as it will affect the handling of the car.

The metal inside the bearing can wear down and start to fail, usually making a noise when it does so. This is often accelerated when dirt, grit or sand gets into the bearing if the seal is compromised, or if the grease inside comes out for the same reason.

The bulk of the wheel bearing replacement cost is attributable to the labor. In some cars where the wheel bearings are easier to access and remove, the labor cost could be around $80 to $200. The wheel bearings cost anywhere from $40 to $120 each, depending on the vehicle. You'll have to pay more if you have a larger vehicle like a full-size SUV or heavy-duty pickup truck, which could reach over $1,000 in parts and labor.

Right in the middle of your car’s wheel is what’s called the hub. It’s what the wheel itself attaches onto with your wheel nuts (or bolts) and it turns as the wheel does. Inside the hub is a wheel bearing, which is what allows the wheel to be both attached to the car and to rotate at the same time. It’s a small assembly of metal parts that slide along easily, helped with grease.

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