Common questions

Can a bad wheel bearing warp a rotor?

Can a bad wheel bearing warp a rotor?

Severe bearing looseness can cause excessive runout, making the brakes pulsate or pull. However, this usually indicates a defective caliper or equalizer and can also be a sign of worn brakes or rotors. The most common cause is a warped rotor due to the caliper not retracting.

What happens when a wheel bearing is loose?

In many modern cars, the wheel bearing comes with the hub as an assembly. It bolts to the steering knuckle or spindle. If a wheel bearing is loose, the ABS sensor might not read properly causing the ABS warning light to come on. In some wheel bearings, the tone ring is built into one of the side seals of the bearing.

How often do wheel bearings need to be replaced?

As we mentioned, in many cars wheel bearings can last the lifetime of a vehicle. In our experience, a vehicle might need one wheel bearing replaced within 150,000 miles. To make the wheel bearings last longer, watch out for potholes and drive slower over speed bumps.

Where does a wheel bearing go in a car?

In many cars a wheel bearing comes together with a hub as an assembly. Tapered roller bearings like this one come in pairs, one larger bearing, one smaller bearing. It bolts to the steering knuckle or spindle.

What are the worst enemies of wheel bearings?

Its two worst enemies are heat and water. Heat caused by lack of lubrication can destroy a wheel bearing. Water that penetrates a sealed bearing will also destroy it. Most wheel bearings manufactured today are sealed.

What causes a wheel bearing to be destroyed?

Heat caused by lack of lubrication can destroy a wheel bearing. Water that penetrates a sealed bearing will also destroy it. Most wheel bearings manufactured today are sealed. They come from the factory pressed together as an assembly: front race, bearing set, center race, bearing set, and outer race, with seals on both the front and rear.

Can a wheel bearing be replaced on both sides?

You shouldn’t necessarily have the bearings on both sides replaced. Just because one fails is no reason to think the others are about to; bearings should last a long time. Replacing one is a bit expensive because of the labor involved.

What makes a roaring noise after wheel bearing replacement?

I’ve honestly replaced this three times now with last one being a different brand and every time after awhile the humming noise comes back and turns into a this roaring noise. No grinding or high pitch squealing but just sound like I’m running on a very bad road.

What are the warning signs of a bad wheel bearing?

Pay attention to some of the key warning signs of a bad wheel bearing. Ball bearings are the most common type of wheel bearings used today (along with roller bearings—though the latter don’t have the versatility of the ball ones).

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Ruth Doyle