Bearings

Contact seals have a lip which fully contacts the inner ring where the pressure of the synthetic rubber acts as a barrier for grease retention and the prevention of particles entering the bearing сontact seals can be considered superior to non-contact seals in sealing efficiency, although their friction torque and temperature rise coefficients will be higher. Also when the lip portion of a contact seal rotates contacting the inner ring, the allowable seal peripheral speed will vary. Keep in mind that lubrication is necessary at the contact surface between the lip part of the contact seal and the inner ring. Ordinary bearing lubricant can be used for this purpose.

Once you’ve performed this basic wheel bearing test, you should have a better idea of where the problem is. Then, it’s a case of diagnosing the front or rear wheel on the side in question.

Replacing all of your car’s wheel bearings might cost an eye-watering sum, but it’s guaranteed to be a lot cheaper than repairing the damage should a bearing fail.

The cost of a wheel bearing replacement in the UK is roughly £150-£300, dependent on the make and model of your car and a mechanic’s labour costs. The good news is that you don’t need to replace all wheel bearings at once if the other three remain in a safe and serviceable condition.

Sealing a bearing can be accomplished with seals or shields. Seals unlike shields come in a variety of materials and types. Shields are manufactured from metal and are non-contacting whereas seals are shields with a rubber bonded to its outer surface. Seals can be manufactured as full, light or slight or no contact and may have a variety of customized features depending upon the manufacturer.

Bearings need to have adequate lubrication to prevent metal to metal contact between the rolling elements, raceways and cages. Proper lubrication prevents wear and helps protect the bearing from corrosion. Sealed bearings with shields or seals filled with grease are the most commonly specified and widely used in numerous applications. Grease has the advantage over oil due to better retention in the bearing. Full contact sealed bearings are referred to as lubricated for life and therefore maintenance free. Sealed or shielded bearings for normal, and medium loads are highly produced and therefore have low production costs. Common applications for standard sealed 600 and 6200 series bearings include electric motors, drills, pumps and fans.

Nonsealedbearing

Bearings are used in a wide range of applications each in their own unique environment. Contaminants like water or dust, and foreign matter can easily enter an unprotected bearing. Bearings without a sealing device can fail dramatically and quickly. Bearing operation will be adversely affected as heat increases and lubricant deteriorates.

If you’re aware that there’s an issue with your car’s wheel bearing, it’s best to take it straight to a mechanic for a full diagnosis and repair. Often, it may just be a case of relubricating the ball bearings within the assembly before repacking them, which is significantly simpler to put right than the alternative.

Shown on the left NSK developed the new low friction yet high sealing performance seal. Normally as I stated earlier a high sealing performance seal causes more  friction due to its high contact. Low-friction seals have lower sealing performance due to its lighter contact. Now NSK offers an option for customers to get both an effective seal but not at the expense of increased friction.

As you’ll know from our car maintenance glossary, bearings allow the wheels to turn freely without generating huge amounts of heat. If a bearing were to fail, the wheel can seize up altogether, resulting in catastrophic damage and the potential for a serious incident. Indeed, in the very worst-case scenario, a failed bearing can cause the wheel to rip away from the car entirely.

High sealing performance or contact seals cause a relatively greater increase in friction, and low-friction seals or non contact seals have lower sealing performance.

Additional considerations include seal peripheral speed, shaft fitting errors, space limitations, seal friction and resultant heat increase, and cost.

To do that, you’ll first need to jack up your car so that both wheels are off the ground. We would strongly recommend using service ramps for this to ensure you can carry out the following checks safely.

Sealed Bearingsby size

Types of designations for shields are Z and ZZ  where in this case a metal shield plate is affixed to the outside ring. For common seal designations you will find in many catalogs RS, 2RS, LB, LLB, LU and LLU. For sealed bearings the Inner ring incorporates a V-groove and labyrinth clearance. The outer ring incorporates synthetic rubber molded to a steel plate where the seal edge contacts the V-groove along the inner ring surface. LLU and and contact 2RS seals are excellent for dust proofing and very good for water proofing.

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Suspect that your car is suffering from a faulty wheel bearing? Our guide can help you check and diagnose the problem, and decide if and when it’s still safe to drive.

Sealedrollerbearingsby size

When the car is elevated and in place, take hold of each wheel in turn and wiggle it backwards and forwards, side to side. If there is any play in the wheel, it feels wobbly or loose, or an unusual noise accompanies some minor movement, then you’ve found the problem wheel.

NSK  has developed a seal it claims is both high in sealing performance and provides low friction. For most manufacturers this would be difficult as you may have one of these features at the expense of the other.

SealedNeedlebearings

Typically, wheel bearings have a lifespan of around 85,000 to 100,000 miles, so if your car is approaching these kinds of figures, it’s important to keep an eye on the tell-tale signs of a bearing in decline.

Standard ball bearing seal types shown below. Other types or similarly designed seals may be used in housings and roller bearings.

If you suspect you have a wheel bearing fault but aren’t sure which side of the vehicle is affected, there’s a safe and simple test you can use to check. Our step-by-step guide below can take you through how it’s done…

Roller bearing

Sealedvs shieldedbearings

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Selecting an appropriate bearing seal demands a proper assessment of the operational environment. The operating speed, denoted often by angular velocity, plays a role in determining heat generation and potential wear rates. The type and viscosity of the lubricant, combined with the expected bearing load (both radial and axial), directly influence the seal’s efficiency and longevity. Furthermore, bearing dimensions, particularly the bore diameter and width, are essential for ensuring a perfect fit and avoiding potential leak paths.

Sealed Bearingsnear me

What are the seals characteristics and how are they important to bearing and sealing performance? What impact does the seal have on the amount of friction created? Generally sealing devices for rolling bearings fall into two main classifications: non-contact seals and contact seals.

Sealed bearings can have many different designs and features, which are important to the optimal performance in mechanical systems. Engineers equipped with an in-depth understanding of various seal options can make informed decisions tailored to specific applications. The proper selection will result in longer bearing life and prolong the operational efficiency of the bearing assemblies.

As a rule, bearing seals have two main functions which are to prevent lubricating oil or grease from leaking out and to prevent dust, water and other contaminants from entering the bearing.

Confident in car maintenance DIY? Lubricate and service your car’s wheel bearings with Holts Multi-Purpose Lithium Grease. Trusted by professionals, it reduces friction and wear in all moving parts, even those that work under extreme pressure. For more top tips and advice, read the Holts blog or visit our help and advice centre.

You can still drive with a bad wheel bearing, but we wouldn’t recommend it for long distances. Keep your mileage to a minimum and look out for worsening symptoms of a wheel bearing fault; we cover the symptoms to check for later in this guide.

Non-contact seals and shields have a very small clearance between the inner ring and the enclosure being either a seal or shield. In the case of non contact seals or shields friction is negligible to non-existent. This type of seal is very suitable for high speeds.

The first barrier is an external housing seal, the second barrier is the grease fill captured in the housing, and the third barrier is the integral bearing seal. For highly  contaminated environments, the SKF 3 barrier sealing solution will significantly extend bearing service life.

Given the damage that can occur as a result of a failed wheel bearing, not to mention the dangers, this further reinforces the importance of getting those bearings checked and repaired the moment you realise there’s a problem.

Continuing to drive on a bad wheel bearing can lead to extensive and critical damage which will be significantly more expensive to repair than a simple bearing re-grease and service. And in the worst cases, the damage from a faulty bearing that goes untreated can prove impossible to fix, particularly if it contributes to corrosion of surrounding components and the axle.

Need to recap the signs of a failing wheel bearing? Here are the symptoms to watch out for while you’re driving, particularly when turning corners: