Spicer® Wheel Seals - Axle - wheel seal

2024-07-29 08:26:37

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.

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.

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.

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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.

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.

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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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

“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.”

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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?

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.

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.

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.

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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?

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.

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.

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.

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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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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:

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.

Ball bearings

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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