Depending on the vehicle, you can save hundreds in labor replacing wheel bearings yourself. Most auto parts stores will lend you the specialty tools and equipment needed to replace a wheel bearing.

Another symptom to watch out for is a vibration coming from the affected wheel. This is usually most noticeable at higher speeds (above 40 MPH) and can be dangerous if not addressed quickly.

Wheelbearing replacement cost

According to Simes, a failing wheel bearing will likely produce a soft, faint vibration that’s felt before it’s heard. There may also be a vague rhythmic humming or droning sound that increases over time and with speed.

In some cases, a bad wheel bearing can also cause the affected wheel to wobble or shake. This is usually most noticeable at higher speeds (above 40 MPH) and can be dangerous if not addressed quickly.

Unlike unbalanced tires, shaking caused by a bad wheel bearing should be obvious from the side of the car where the bearing is failing.

One of the most common symptoms is a clicking noise coming from the affected wheel when turning. This noise is caused by the balls inside the CV joint hitting against each other as they slide back and forth.

If you’re experiencing strange noises or vibrations while driving, there’s a good chance that you have a bad wheel bearing or CV joint. Identifying the cause can seem difficult, but there are a few ways to pinpoint the faulty part.

Frontwheelbearing noise symptoms

NOTE: Whether you DIY or your mechanic replaces the bearing, always install a new axle hub nut. Most hub nuts are prevailing torque fasteners, used on critical components (like securing axle shafts to hub bearings) where a loose nut could lead to disastrous consequences.

To tell the difference between a bad wheel bearing and a bad CV joint, listen to the noise. If you hear a grinding, growling, or rumbling noise coming from the affected wheel, it’s a bad wheel bearing. If you hear a clicking noise coming from the affected wheel when turning, it’s a bad CV joint.

A wheel bearing is a set of steel balls held together by a metal ring called a “cage.” The cage keeps the balls spaced evenly around the circumference of the bearing and prevents them from coming into contact with each other during operation.

The average cost to replace a sealed wheel hub bearing is $350 per wheel. However, depending on the make and model, shop labor rate, the cost of the bearing itself and any additional damage, the total could exceed $1,000.

The cage and rollers are held together inside a hardened metal ring called a “race.” The seal keeps grease in and damaging water and debris out. Wheel bearings are installed inside, and secured to, the suspension, either by press fit, bolts or a snap-ring. Once mounted, the wheel bearing rides on the axle shaft, allowing the tire/wheel to spin effortlessly.

Most vehicles have four-wheel bearings – one at each corner of the vehicle – that support the weight of the vehicle and allow the wheels to rotate freely.

How to tell whichwheelbearing isbadwhile driving

As the name implies, wheel bearings provide smooth, friction-free rotation to your wheels while you’re driving down the road. Without them, your wheels would literally grind to a halt.

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Signs of bad wheel bearingsnoise

One of the most common symptoms is noise coming from the wheels or suspension area. This noise is usually described as a grinding, growling, or rumbling sound and is most noticeable when driving at lower speeds.

Average lifeof wheel bearings

But sealed wheel bearings are non-serviceable and should never be repaired, only replaced. Even if a pro suggests repairing a bearing, don’t let them. Trying to reuse a damaged wheel bearing can result in an accident and severe injury.

The CV joint consists of two main parts: the “inner race” and the “outer race.” The inner race is attached to the shaft, while the outer race is attached to the wheel axle.

A bad wheel bearing can cause a tire/wheel to move or glide unevenly or sluggishly. It can also cause your brakes to drag, pulling your vehicle to one side when you try to stop.

What does abad wheelbearing sound like

Friction from a failing wheel bearing produces heat. After driving, without touching the tires or wheels, carefully walk around your vehicle and use a non-touch thermometer to measure if one is hotter than the others.

Joe Simes is an ASE and Toyota master technician. After 20 years in the industry, Simes recently became a Pennsylvania Department of Education certified automotive technology instructor at North Montco Technical Career Center in Lansdale, Pennsylvania.

On many vehicles, the ABS sensor is built into the wheel bearing, or it’s externally mounted adjacent to the spinning part of the bearing where the sensor measures vehicle speed. Damaged from a wobbly wheel bearing, the sensor will send erratic readings to the vehicle’s computer, illuminating the ABS light.

Over time, however, wheel bearings can wear out, causing noise and vibration that can be quite noticeable while driving. In some cases, a failed wheel bearing can even cause the wheel to come loose from the vehicle while you’re driving!

You can service or replace tapered wheel bearings yourself. Never reuse any wheel bearing that’s loose, worn, noisy or shows any signs of wear.

Wheel bearings are typically made up of an inner and outer ring, with the cage and balls in between. The inner ring is attached to the hub, while the outer ring is what the wheel bolts onto.

CV joints are located at either end of the driveshaft and are usually covered by a rubber or plastic “boot” that protects them from dirt and debris.

Absolutely not. It’s crucial to get bad wheel bearings diagnosed and replaced ASAP. If not, you could lose a wheel or get in an accident.

This movement allows the shaft to transmit power to the wheels while the suspension is moving up and down, always keeping the wheels in contact with the ground.

You’ll hear clicking, cracking, grinding, snapping, or whining noises coming from your wheels or tires. They’ll increase when accelerating or turning.

Between these two races are a number of small metal balls (called “balls”) that rotate along with the shaft. As the shaft turns, the balls slide back and forth inside the races, allowing the inner and outer races to move relative to each other.

Signs of bad wheel bearingsreddit

A CV joint is a type of joint that allows the shaft to transmit power while it’s at an angle. It’s most commonly used in drivetrains, where it connects the rotating driveshaft to the non-rotating wheel axles.

On modern front- and four-wheel drive cars, wheel bearings are a set of permanently sealed, precisely machined steel ball or straight roller bearings. The balls, or rollers, are encased in a “cage” that supports the bearings, allowing them to rotate freely.

Signs of bad wheel bearingswhile driving

Read on to learn the most common bad wheel bearing symptoms, based on my experience (50 years in the industry) and that of Joe Simes, a National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) certified and Toyota master technician. But first, a little background.

Another symptom to watch out for is increased vibration coming from the affected wheel. This can be felt through the floorboard or steering wheel and is usually worst between 15-25 MPH.

Simply stated, wheel bearings allow cars and trucks to run smoother and more efficiently by reducing friction and supporting vehicle weight. When they start to fail, you can usually tell.