Wheel bearings are components that make it possible for the wheels on your car to spin freely and with the least amount of resistance possible. A wheel bearing is a group of steel balls that are kept together inside the hub of the wheel in a race made of metal. While driving, if you hear a humming or moaning noise, one of your car’s wheel bearings is probably beginning to fail.
Although it requires certain specialized mechanic gear, changing your own wheel bearings is regarded as an intermediate task that may be completed at home.
The generalized instructions provided here address the three most typical wheel bearing types that are present on the majority of automobiles. Before you start the repair, make sure to get the service manual for your car and figure out what kind of wheel bearings it has.
In This Article...
Front wheel bearing replacement is it challenging?
A wheel bearing serves the straightforward purpose of enabling the wheel to rotate freely. Wheel bearings come in two varieties: ball bearings and tapered roller bearings. The majority of modern automobiles, SUVs, and pickup trucks use double row ball wheel bearings that don’t require any maintenance, like the one in the picture.
This kind of wheel bearing frequently ships with the hub as an assembly. What is the lifespan of a wheel bearing? When should a wheel bearing be changed? Wheel bearing replacement is not time- or mileage-dependent, and in many cars, wheel bearings can last the whole life of the car. Only when a wheel bearing is broken or worn out does it need to be replaced.
What signs indicate a faulty wheel bearing? The most typical symptom is when internal deterioration to a wheel bearing results in a buzzing sound. At faster speeds, this kind of noise is more audible. When the vehicle changes direction, the wheel bearing noise could become louder or quieter. When leaving the highway, for instance, you can hear a change in the volume. When only one row of the wheel bearing is harmed, this occurs. When the load changes to that side of the bearing during turns, the noise gets louder.
When a wheel bearing gets loose or has play in it, it is another sign. Occasionally, a squeaking or growling sound can be caused by a loose wheel bearing.
Can the antilock braking system (ABS) be affected by a damaged wheel bearing? It’s true that many cars have a tone ring for the ABS sensor attached to a wheel bearing.
In many modern cars, the wheel bearing comes with the hub as an assembly. It is bolted to the spindle or steering knuckle.
The ABS sensor may not read correctly if a wheel bearing is loose, which will illuminate the ABS warning light. In some wheel bearings, the tone ring is incorporated into one of the side seals of the bearing. The ABS system won’t function if a wheel bearing is mounted with the improper side towards the sensor.
What could damage a wheel bearing? Normal wear and tear might occasionally cause the wheel bearing to degrade. A wheel bearing might fail early due to rust and moisture. Additionally, a wheel bearing may be harmed by collisions, potholes, or curbs.
Several issues, such as a faulty transmission bearing, unevenly worn or “cupped” tires, and a worn-out differential, might result in a humming noise when driving. It can be challenging to identify which wheel bearing is noisy because the noise is transmitted via the vehicle’s chassis and metal panels. Most of the time, a mechanic can tell whether a wheel bearing is bad by using a stethoscope to listen for noise and looking for looseness.
Driving with a damaged wheel bearing is it safe? It is dependent upon the bearing’s state. During an examination, only your mechanic will be able to identify this.
Does a car’s warranty cover the wheel bearing? Many manufacturers cover the powertrain warranty for the wheel bearings in the drive axle, such as the front wheel bearings in a front-wheel drive car. Otherwise, the standard new car warranty will cover wheel bearings. If a wheel bearing fails and is damaged in an accident, it might not be covered.
Should you change both wheel bearings if just one is damaged? No, it is not required. Only that particular wheel bearing needs to be changed if only one of them is damaged. A good wheel bearing does not require replacement as a preventative measure.
Can you grease a wheel bearing? Greasing is only permitted for tapered roller wheel bearings. A double row ball bearing, which is common in cars, is permanently sealed and must only be replaced if it is damaged.
What is a wheel bearing’s typical lifespan? Wheel bearings in many cars, as we previously discussed, can endure the entire lifespan of the car. According to our observations, a car might require a wheel bearing replacement after 150,000 km.
Watch out for potholes and go over speed bumps more slowly to extend the life of the wheel bearings.
What is the price of a new wheel bearing? Depending on the amount of work required. In many automobiles, a wheel bearing and hub are assembled together.
Like this one, tapered roller bearings are sold in pairs, one larger and one smaller.
It is bolted to the spindle or steering knuckle. It is simpler to replace in this instance ($80180 labor plus $65180 part).
In order to install a wheel bearing in some cars, a press must be used, which adds to the labor costs ($120250 labor plus $40120 item). It takes a lot more work and costs more money to replace a wheel bearing in some large SUVs and trucks. For instance, the parts and labor cost to replace a rear wheel bearing in a Toyota FJ Cruiser with a solid back axle might reach $1,200.
The grease and adjustments on tapered roller wheel bearings must be done on a regular basis. How can you know what kind of bearings your automobile or truck has? The majority of the time, non-drive axles employ tapered roller bearings.
For instance, the front wheels of many vintage rear-wheel drive pickup trucks contain tapered roller bearings. The adjustment nut in the tapered roller bearing design frequently has a removable cap covering it, which is one visible difference. For one wheel, tapered roller bearings are supplied as a pair, and they are always changed in pairs. Repacking the hub with fresh grease and correcting the bearing pre-tension are required when replacing tapered roller bearings.
How simple is it to change a wheel bearing at home? If you have the right knowledge, equipment, and manual, replacing a wheel bearing that comes as an assembly with the hub and bolts to the spindle or steering knuckle is not that difficult. The huge axle nut is obviously extremely tight and can be challenging to remove. It’s advisable to let the experts handle pressing the bearing in and out if that’s necessary.
What is the time required to replace a wheel bearing?
According to our research, replacing a wheel bearing takes an average of 1 to 2 hours.
The time it takes to replace a wheel bearing might vary significantly from car to car because wheel bearing components can be very different between different automobile makes and models.
Depending on whether the bearing is on the front or back wheel, the time required to replace a wheel bearing also varies slightly. Rear wheel bearing replacements typically take under an hour, whereas front wheel bearing replacements often take roughly 90 minutes.
What equipment is required to change a wheel bearing?
How Do I Replace a Wheel Bearing? What Equipment Do I Need?
- a pair of pliers with needle-noses.
- ratchet wrench and a range of socket sizes.
- screwdriver with a flat head.
- jack.
- wheel nut removing with a star wrench.
How durable are Toyota wheel bearings?
We will go over all you need to know about wheel bearings and why they are crucial for your vehicle in order to keep our customers informed about their cars and all of their parts. Then, you’ll be able to spot wheel bearing issues quickly in the future or at the very least, know when it’s time to see a professional.
What Are Wheel Bearings?
A collection of steel balls or tapers known as “ball bearings” or “tapered bearings” make up a wheel bearing. A metal ring called a “race” secures these bearings to one another. The wheel bearings fit into the hollow “hub” that is located in the middle of the wheel and aid in rotating your wheels.
How Long Do Wheel Bearings Last?
Wheel bearings can wear out and break even though they are designed to last the whole lifetime of your car. Wheel bearings typically need to be replaced after 85,000 to 100,000 kilometers. Wheel bearings can last a long time in some cars, but they can also wear out very fast in other cars. Your wheel bearings’ level of quality and your typical driving circumstances will determine everything.
Given their location on the wheel, wheel bearings must be able to survive challenging road and weather conditions like potholes, speed bumps, rain, dust, and more. All of these challenging circumstances might shorten their lifespan, so rather than depending on a timeline, you should keep an eye out for the signs of a failing wheel bearing.
Signs And Symptoms Of Failing Wheel Bearings
If you are worried about your wheel bearings, there are a lot of symptoms you should watch out for. You might need to replace your wheel bearing if you detect any of the warning indications listed below. If you think your wheel bearings may be failing, keep an eye out for any warning indications and tell your mechanic about them.
Wheel bearing failure warning signs:
- Unusual Noises It’s wise to pay attention to any unexpected noises you hear because bad wheel bearings can produce a range of odd noises. It is your responsibility as a car owner to understand what noises are typical, therefore you should be aware of unusual noises as soon as they appear. If your wheel bearing is damaged, you might hear humming, screeching, squeaking, growling, clicking, snapping, popping, clunking, or knocking noises. When you turn, accelerate, change gears, and other actions, you might hear these noises. Let your mechanic identify the issue because these noises may also be indicative of a number of other problems.
- Grinding It’s not good if your car grinds when you’re driving it. This can indicate that your wheel’s system has already sustained significant mechanical damage. There is a good probability that your wheel bearings are to blame if you experience this while changing gears or turning your car.
- Vibrations When you turn or change speed, you might feel your car vibrate, which could mean your wheel bearings need to be replaced. Although it’s not a common assumption among automobile owners, poor wheel bearings can be the main culprit of vibrations. If you experience several of the signs on this list, you may soon require a wheel bearing replacement.
- Applying the brakes while pulling Occasionally, a car will pull to one side while the brakes are used. This is abnormal and can be a sign that your wheel bearings need to be replaced. Be sure to consult a mechanic because pulling to one side could potentially be an indication of another problem.
- uneven rotor or brake pad wear Your brake pads and tires may experience abnormal wear for a variety of reasons. Wheel bearing failure is one of these causes. Regardless of what you believe the cause may be, you should schedule an appointment with a technician if you see uneven brake pad or rotor wearing.
- Lack of ABS Additionally, faulty wheel bearings may be indicated by ABS failure or other problems. Your car’s anti-lock brakes are a crucial safety element, so you must address this problem right now. Click here to find out more about ABS!
Some of these signs of poor wheel bearings require immediate treatment since they are really serious. Get your automobile inspected by a skilled mechanic before getting back on the road!
Can I Drive With Bad Wheel Bearings
No. Driving without a working wheel bearing is not advised. Not only is it incredibly risky for you, but you also run the risk of hurting or killing other motorists.
If you neglect faulty wheel bearings, your car’s steering may become difficult or your wheel may cease operating while you’re driving.
In addition to being dangerous, it can put a lot of stress on the transmission, CV joint, and hub of your car. Your auto repair costs could increase if you don’t replace your worn-out wheel bearings as soon as possible. You might also observe that your tires deteriorate more quickly, necessitating more frequent tire replacement. Overall, these potential consequences of poor wheel bearings may prove to be more costly than the initial issue.
Mobile Wheel Bearing Replacement Near You!
Fortunately for you, replacing a wheel bearing isn’t a particularly difficult task, especially for experienced professionals. As a result, it won’t be as costly or time-consuming as a more serious problem. But if you put off fixing this problem for too long, the worn-out wheel bearings may also impact other components, necessitating additional repairs and raising the total cost of ownership.
How To Book A Wheel Bearing Replacement With Wrench
Register on our website or mobile app to schedule a wheel bearing repair service right away! If you don’t yet have an account with us, you can still make an appointment as a guest. Regardless of whether you have an account with us or not, we will need to learn a little more about the kind of car you drive and its requirements.
What kind of car do you have is the first thing we’ll need to know. Please tell us the year, make, and model of the vehicle, together with the VIN and license plate number. With the use of this information, we will be better equipped to handle your wheel bearing repair and any further services you might need. We will make sure we arrive with the appropriate equipment and parts to carry out all of your required repairs and services if your car needs a specific part.
Then, we’ll need to know what kind of auto service or maintenance you require. Schedule a wheel bearing replacement appointment if you are aware that your wheel bearings are worn out. If you think your wheel bearings are the source of your car’s problems but are unsure, schedule a diagnostic appointment, and our mobile technician will examine your vehicle and determine the issue.
We will compute an auto repair price for you once we are aware of the services that your automobile requires and what kind of vehicle you have. You will receive a customized version of this statement so you will know precisely what to expect. We will include all relevant information, including the price of the parts and labor as well as the anticipated duration of the services. Choose a date, time, and place for your wheel bearing replacement appointment once you’ve had a chance to review our auto repair estimate.