Your vehicle’s wheels may seem to have simple functionality, but their design involves a lot of complexity. The wheel bearing is the perfect example of that.

Wheel bearingnoise test

And luckily, AutoNation Mobile Service is the most convenient car repair and maintenance solution that offers all of this.

The labor costs for replacing a wheel bearing are between $140 and $200, while the parts themselves cost between $150 and $400.

A worn wheel bearing can give you a shaky steering wheel at a lower vehicle speed. The shaking will only worsen and may even occur while accelerating if the wheel bearing failure is unaddressed.

Wheel bearingnoise when driving

Wheel bearings are key to keeping your wheels in position and moving effectively. A wheel bearing issue can prove to be dangerous on the road and can cost you your safety.

It is also recommended that you never use a torch to heat the steering knuckle. While heat can be helpful in installing and removing bearings, a torch does not provide the precision needed to heat only the necessary components. This can damage or distort the knuckle and ball joints, and lead to collateral damage to other vulnerable components on the steering, suspension and brakes.

Since other vehicle issues like tire damage cause a similar noise, it can be challenging to determine if what you’re hearing is a bad bearing noise or tire noise.

If all four of your tires are aligned with complete contact with the road, you wouldn’t have uneven wear. Typically, the most worn tire is the same wheel with the faulty bearing.

A failing wheel bearing can lead to increased wheel friction, causing them to change position. As a result, you may experience vibrations and tremors while driving.

Whether your vehicle has roller bearings, ball bearings, or any other type of wheel bearings, the most obvious sign of damage is noise.

In this article, we’ll answer all your questions on wheel bearing noise, including what it sounds like, four other damage symptoms, possible causes, and the cost of replacement.

When wheels spin around these metal axles, they create friction and heat. Wheel bearings help reduce friction and heat, and protect your wheels and tires.

What doesa bad wheel bearing soundlike at high speed

However, sometimes you may not have a faulty wheel bearing or a worn tire. The issue can be within the drivetrain, the CV joint, or the rear differential. It’s best to get your vehicle evaluated by a certified mechanic who can say for sure if it’s a bad wheel bearing noise.

Use of an induction heater to heat the wheel hub assembly is the preferred method over using a torch. This will allow you to apply heat strategically to the wheel hub to break up corrosion and help penetrating oils to penetrate deeper, while isolating related components from damage.

Wheel bearingnoise quick fix

Wheel hubs are made of high-strength steel and the steering knuckle they are attached to is generally made of aluminum. This leads to a process called galvanic corrosion (bimetal corrosion). Galvanic corrosion is a naturally occurring process in which two dissimilar metals react with each other, essentially welding the wheel hub to the steering knuckle during their normal service life.

This one’s a symptom your mechanic can identify. When your vehicle is up on the lift, a mechanic can grab the wheel and try to rock it back and forth. If the wheel assembly wobbles, you probably have a wheel bearing problem.

When encountering difficulty separating a Gen 3 wheel hub from a steering knuckle, you may be tempted to resort to brute force, in the form of a heavy hammer or other tool, to break the bond loose. Using a heavy hand tool is often ineffective at breaking the galvanic bond, but even worse, can damage the steering knuckle or other steering/suspension components, compounding the issue.

Plus, sometimes, you may have to remove the steering knuckle to replace the wheel bearing. So even if you were to determine front or rear wheel bearing damage, you’d need specialized equipment and experience to fix it yourself.

Wheel bearingreplacement cost

Wheel bearingnoise when accelerating

A wheel bearing is a set of steel balls or rollers found inside the hub assembly and held by a cage in a metal ring called a “race.” At the center of your wheels is a hollow metal piece called a wheel hub. The wheel bearings fit tightly inside this hub and ride on a metal axle shaft.

Here’s something you can try to figure out if what you’re hearing is a bad bearing noise: Turn the steering wheel slightly to the left or right. If the noise worsens, then it’s likely one of the wheel bearings.

Our certified mobile mechanics come to your home or office to complete your repair. We make the process easy from start to finish by offering upfront pricing, online booking, after-hours support, and a full warranty.

Wheel bearings are critical for your wheels to stay sturdy and work harmoniously. However, they’re prone to damage. And an almost definite sign of a worn bearing is noise.

Wheel bearing soundwhen turning

Can you fix it yourself?Well, a critical problem here is diagnosing the exact reason for the issues you see. For all you know, a wheel bearing noise can actually be tire damage in reality.

Do not try to use the air hammer as a wedge to pry or push the wheel hub free from the steering knuckle. It is virtually impossible to force the air hammer between the two components without damaging them.

If you do not have an induction heater that works for a wheel end application, or you just need more muscle to separate the wheel hub from the knuckle, you can use an air hammer to help. When using an air hammer to loosen a wheel hub, the key is not how much force you are using; it is how you are applying that force.

Whether you are an Automotive Technician or a DIYer, getting a job done in an efficient manner is important. One common issue that can occur when replacing a wheel hub assembly is difficulty separating the wheel hub assembly from the steering knuckle. Removing a stuck wheel hub can seem impossible at times. This quick tech tip should be helpful if you ever encounter this situation.

Sometimes, a failed wheel bearing can cause you to lose a wheel while driving, which can have potentially deadly consequences.

It is NOT safe to drive with a damaged front or rear wheel bearing. And since wheel bearing noise points to bearing problems, it wouldn’t be a good idea to take your car for a spin.

Remember, if you damage adjacent components while replacing a wheel hub, the best case scenario is an extra call or visit to the auto part store as well as the job taking longer and costing more than planned. A much worse scenario is an angry customer or even a comeback if the damage isn’t identified before the vehicle leaves the shop. It pays to work smart!

Frontwheel bearingnoise symptoms

Instead, you can use the air hammer to rotate the wheel hub mounting flange in relation to the steering knuckle, while avoiding contact with the knuckle.  When the wheel hub starts to rotate, while the knuckle remains fixed in place, it will have broken free from the galvanic bond and will be much easier to remove.