What causes wheel bearing noise?

Wheel bearing wear and tear can happen for a variety of reasons we’ll look at in a minute. A bad wheel bearing sound is usually a loud hum coming from that wheel sort of like loud road noise from bad tires. A similar noise can come from worn bearings in your transmission or even a low transmission fluid level.

What is bearing noise?

The most common and often most-identifiable symptom associated with a bad wheel bearing is noise coming from the wheel or tire area of the moving vehicle. You may mistake this as engine noise, but when you listen closely you are likely to hear grinding or grating that gets louder as the vehicle accelerates.

What kind of noise does a bad wheel bearing make?

Mike, Bad wheel bearings are usually associated with humming noises, not grinding sounds. Grinding noises usually have more to do with brake problems rather than wheel bearings. Try reading our article about brake noise to see if that is the problem you are having.

When to go to the doctor for wheel bearing noise?

A rumbling or cyclic noise can be heard in wheel bearings with problems in their smooth functioning. If the driver senses even a slight problem in the smooth running of wheels, he should go for wheel bearing noise diagnosis.

When do you throw out the bearing noise?

It all depends on when you hear it and when it destructs, but that can vary quite a bit in length depending on certain variables like seat tolerance and stereo volume. However, there will come a time when even the meanest set of 6×9’s won’t help and you will be stranded on the road, being pissed off.

Why do I hear a noise when I spin the wheel?

While spinning the wheel with one hand, one should place the other hand on the strut assembly. If there is any problem in the smooth functioning of wheel bearing, a noise can be heard. It is necessary to lift the vehicle to find out the side from which the noise originates.

What does a grinding noise on a wheel mean?

Typically, the noise associated with a wheel bearing that’s gone bad is a grinding noise, and you would mostly hear this noise when you were trying to turn the vehicle in either direction. A humming noise could indicate a wheel bearing starting to wear down, which after the impact the wheel incurred, would most likely be the problem.