You are not always alone if you have been hearing or seeing strange noises from your car and think the problem could be in your wheel bearings. This is a fairly common problem as wheel bearings wear out over time. They are devices designed to keep the spindle of your car’s wheel attached to the brake assembly. Their primary purpose is to allow your wheels to rotate freely. They do this by using ball bearings sandwiched between two rings that will move whenever there is a slight angle in any direction. These devices should last at least ten years, but they usually start to fail after five years. Keep reading to get the six signs you must change your car’s wheel bearings.
1. Grinding Noise in Wheel
If you notice grinding noises in your car’s wheels, it could be a sign that it’s time to change the wheel bearings. This is a common problem with older cars, trucks, and newer ones. Car wheel bearings can get worn out and make a grinding noise. The wheel bearing must be replaced if the grinding sound comes from one side. The grinding noise comes from the wheel bearing is worn out or broken. While this doesn’t mean you need to replace the entire bearing assembly, it does mean that you should have them checked out by a mechanic to ensure that nothing else is wrong with your vehicle.
2. Steering Wheel Rumble
The steering wheel is the most essential part of your vehicle and is one of the first things you notice when driving a car. If you notice the steering wheel shaking or rumbling, it may be a sign that your wheel bearings must be replaced. The steering wheel should be smooth and easy to turn. When you’re driving at highway speeds, you should feel no vibration while turning at all. If you do feel vibrations when turning, it could be due to several problems with your vehicle. The most common cause is worn-out wheel bearings, which can allow the wheels to wobble as they rotate around the axle. The easiest way to tell if your car needs new wheel bearings is by carefully listening as you drive down the road. If rattles or vibrations coming from the steering wheel when cornering or braking hard, it’s time for new bearings.
3. Uneven Tire Wear
When you drive your vehicle, you may notice that one of your front tires wears faster than the others. This is a sign that there’s something wrong with your wheel bearings. The problem with uneven tire wear is that it usually means that your car’s wheels need to be in alignment. This can affect how you drive by making it difficult to control your vehicle in turns or when braking. It can also damage your tires and make them wear out faster. You should always have your car checked for wheel alignment at a car parts store if you notice uneven tire wear.
4. Wheel Bearing Grease Is Leaking
If you see grease leaking from the wheel hub, it’s a sign that your bearings are failing. It’s not uncommon for bearings to leak grease. They use a special lubricant called wheel bearing grease to help reduce friction inside the bearing and prevent rust from forming on its metal surfaces. As long as there is no huge physical damage to the bearing, it will continue working fine, even with some leakage from its grease seal. However, if you notice any other symptoms, there might be a problem.
5. Vehicle Pulling to One Side
A loose wheel bearing can cause your vehicle to pull to one side. This is caused by the lack of rotation of the hub and may be accompanied by a grinding sound. If the bearing becomes too loose, it will eventually fall out. Vehicles that pull to one side are unsafe and should be brought in for service immediately. In some cases, the problem could be an alignment issue, but if your tires have even wear across their treads, the problem is more likely related to worn-out or broken wheel bearings.
6. Worn-Out CV Joints
The CV joints in your vehicle are responsible for transmitting power from the transaxle to the wheels. They do this by using a ball joint that pivots on an axle. This allows the shafts to move up and down while the axle stays positioned. Pressing on the gas pedal rotates a spindle that turns gears inside the transmission, which moves axles connected to each wheel via CV joints. The result is that your car accelerates forward when you step on the gas. The very best way to tell if you need new wheel bearings is to listen for abnormal driving sounds. If you hear a clunking noise when turning, stop and check your tires for low pressure caused by a flat spot or nail. If that doesn’t solve the problem, have your vehicle towed to a mechanic for further inspection of the CV joints.
Conclusion
While it’s always tempting to replace a car part in an auto shop just for the sake of upgrading, it won’t do you any real favours in the long run. After all, your car’s wheels and bearing system are integral to its functionality. The good news is that wheel bearings aren’t costly, and they’re a fairly straightforward repair job. But if you want to save yourself the hassle, looking into getting them replaced at an auto parts store can be worthwhile. With all these wheel-bearing signs in this blog post, you can always know when to visit the auto shop.