4 SYMPTOMS OF A BAD WHEEL BEARING

The purpose of the wheel bearings is to allow the wheels to spin freely while supporting the weight of the car. A significantly worn-out bearing can cause the wheel to come off while driving, so it's critical to not ignore the symptoms we’ll discuss today.

symptoms

unusual sounds

The first symptom you could be experiencing with your car is hearing noises when driving. You could hear growling, rumbling, or humming sounds. They will typically get louder as you increase speed. The sound will be coming from the wheel that has a defective wheel bearing.

An easy way to figure out which bearing is affected is by driving and turning the steering wheel at the same time. For example, if you turn the steering wheel to the right and the noise gets louder, this could mean the wheel bearing on the left side of the front wheel is defective. This is because the weight of the vehicle is transferred to the left side when turning to the right. This creates more pressure for the defective wheel bearing to handle.

loose steering wheel

The second symptom of a bad wheel bearing is a loose steering wheel. If the wheel bearing wears out, it’s gonna create an excessive play in that specific wheel. This is why the steering wheel will feel loose when turning left or right. It will also get worse when you drive over rough surfaces such as bumpy roads.

steering wheel vibrations

The third symptom of a faulty wheel bearing is feeling vibrations in the steering wheel. This symptom will get worse as you increase speed. The cause for this is a worn-out wheel bearing that makes the wheels wobble as you’re driving. Since the wheels are connected to the tie rods, and the tie rods are connected to the steering rack, the vibrations will be felt in the steering wheel.

abs light

The last symptom of a faulty wheel bearing is having the ABS light on. This occurs in some vehicles because the ABS sensor is attached to the wheel hub assembly, which houses the wheel bearings. When the bearings go out, it can cause the ABS light to come on.

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If you concluded that your wheel bearing needs to be replaced and you want to do it yourself, I would recommend getting a repair manual here. You can use code “AD10VA” for 15% off one-year subscriptions for any US Order.

You can also buy new wheel bearings here.

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