If you have bad wheel bearings and you don’t replace them in time, something terrible could happen: your vehicle’s tire/wheel could break off, sending your vehicle out-of-control, causing a fatal accident. Yikes!
An Overview of Wheel Bearings
So what are wheel bearings? They’re basically components of a vehicle’s breaking, steering and suspension systems. They allow a wheel to turn as you intend it to turn. Engineered to support the entire vehicle’s weight, bearings are inside a grease-filled, waterproof, sealed metal ring located inside the hub of each wheel. While wheel bearings are made to last the lifetime of a vehicle and there’s no maintenance schedule for them, they can go bad, especially if you hit a pothole, speed bump or tall curb. Meanwhile, if for some reason water, mud, sand or road salt finds its way past the seal and touches your bearing(s), your grease gets contaminated and wears down. This will lead to problems. If you end up needing to replace wheel bearings, expect to pay between $350 and $600.
Signs You Have Bad Wheel Bearings
How would you know you might have bad bearings and need a replacement or two? There are certain signs to look out for… For starters, listen for a humming noise coming from your wheel area. It could be the bearing(s) or it could be the tires and/or the CV joint. Hearing a humming noise from a tire is justification for a visit to the mechanic to investigate what’s going on.
Examples of Noises
What about other noises to listen for? Well, if you hear a squealing or growling noise coming from your tire, especially as your speed increases, that could be a sign your bearings are going bad. Also listen for a clicking sound which increases in frequency as the vehicle speeds up. Have a mechanic take a look at the wheel hub assembly.
If and when you suspect something is wrong with your wheel bearing(s), mechanics will check for “wheel wobble,” whereas they put your vehicle on a lift and then manually check for wheel movement.
Other Warning Signs
Other signs you might have bearing issues could be ABS failure, uneven tire wear and/or your vehicle pulling to one side. Also, if your steering wheel vibrates, especially as you increase your speed and/or you try turning left or right, that could be a bearing problem. Furthermore, if your steering wheel feels “loose,” you should get that checked.
Should you be driving your vehicle if you have bad bearings? Ideally, no. You could experience steering issues or the wheel/tire breaking off!
If you regularly drive through deep water, have unbalanced tires or drive on bad roads full of dirt, rocks or potholes, your wheel bearings might need to be checked. In Lancaster, California, visit AV Bumper to Bumper to have your wheel bearings checked and fixed/replaced if needed. Call 661-949-1999 to schedule your appointment.
