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.

That wobbling we just mentioned will probably first be noticeable in your steering wheel. You might not feel as though it’s much of an issue at first—but if you don’t replace the bearings soon, the friction will increase and can cause your entire car or truck to vibrate. In these cases, it’s best to replace the bearing ASAP to prevent unnecessary friction on your driveshaft and the rest of your transmission.

How to fixbad wheel bearing

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.

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.

Symptoms of bad wheel bearing hubnoise

Even in cars without ABS, driving with worn-out bearings can cause major handling problems. Enough friction on one side of the car can result in your vehicle pulling to one side. This can make turning in one direction much more difficult than the other, reducing your ability to manoeuvre in potentially dangerous situations. It can also cause you to drift to one side while driving in a straight line unless you’re constantly applying pressure in the opposite direction—which can cause you to become fatigued more quickly, making longer drives less comfortable and much less safe.

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.

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.

In many newer cars and trucks, wheel hub assemblies also contain the sensor for the anti-lock braking system. When the bearings inside the hub assembly fail, the ABS sensor on your dashboard may turn on.

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.

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.

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.

How to tell whichwheel bearingisbadwhile driving

When wheel bearings wear down and stop moving smoothly, they may produce a clunking or banging sound. Often, this is only noticeable when a bearing has experienced significant wear and tear—although it can also be apparent when travelling over surfaces with uneven patches.

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When the wheel bearings on one side of your car begin to fail, they’ll cause more friction in the hub assembly of the wheels they’re attached to. As a result, that wheel won’t turn as fast as the one on the other side of your vehicle—which means the tires won’t wear evenly on both sides.

Bad wheel bearing symptoms

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

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.

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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Frontwheel bearingnoisesymptoms

Wheel bearings just aren’t meant to last forever. In general, it’s a good idea to replace them every 85,000–100,000 miles (roughly 136,000–160,000 kms). Of course, the lifespan of your wheel bearings also depends on the quality of the products you buy—our high-quality aftermarket replacement wheel bearings are designed to last significantly longer than the cheapest options you’ll find online.

Most of the time, wheel bearings fail when the seal protecting them breaks. This allows heat, water, dust, and other debris to enter the hub assembly, where it can contaminate the lubricant that keeps your bearings moving smoothly while you drive. This contamination can eventually cause the bearings to rust, which prevents them from moving smoothly against each other and creates friction within your hub assembly—putting strain on your driveshaft and ultimately your transmission.

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.

Enough wear and tear on your drive axle can eventually affect the way your vehicle steers. If you notice that your vehicle no longer handles as responsively when turning the wheel (especially if it’s more prominent on one side, since bearings on both sides of a vehicle rarely wear out at the same time), have the bearings in your car checked by a professional mechanic ASAP.

Badrearwheel hub symptoms

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

Bad wheel hubvsbearing

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.

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.”

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.

“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:

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You might think this is just an annoying light on the dash you can ignore while driving, but we strongly recommend against doing so (or driving while any of your dashboard’s warning lights are on). The ABS sensor determines when your anti-lock braking system engages—and if it detects significantly more friction on one side of your vehicle than the other, it may turn ABS on when you’re not expecting it, creating a serious safety hazard.

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.

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Wheel bearingreplacement cost

If you suspect a problem with your wheel bearings, one good rule of thumb is to take a closer look at the rubber on your vehicle. If the tires are balding on one side and have plenty of tread on the other, a worn-out bearing is likely the culprit.

When bearings wear out or lose their lubrication, they can create a grinding noise. This noise is normally more noticeable when turning your vehicle to the side with the worn out bearing on it. If you hear grinding, loud humming, or rumbling coming from your vehicle during turns or while accelerating, there’s a good chance your bearings are due for replacement.

One of the first signs of worn out wheel bearings you should look out for is what feels like a reduction in your car’s power. Worn out bearings often create significant wobbling in vehicles, which can make your car unsteady above certain speeds and create friction that prevents them from accelerating properly.

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.

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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.

You may not think about the wheel bearings in your car often—but when there’s a problem with them, it’ll cause issues that make driving noticeably harder. Of course, figuring out exactly what issues come from worn-out wheel bearings can be difficult for people without a lot of mechanical experience. That’s why we’re here to help.

We know all about wheel bearings, why they fail, and when they need to be replaced. Read on to learn about 8 common signs of wheel bearing problems so you can recognize a failing bearing in your own vehicle and order a high-quality replacement for it before it leads to other problems.