Interview the customer to find out what kind of roads they typically drive on, as well as what types of loads they carry. If the customer overloads the vehicle, bearing damage could be inevitable. The most common failure pattern for bearings is for those on the passenger side of the vehicle to fail first.
You can narrow down which wheel bearing makes the clicking noises by gently turning the steering wheel from side to side while driving at a safe speed. If the clicking becomes softer when your car turns in one direction, one of the wheels on the opposite side has a faulty wheel bearing.
No, front wheel bearings do not need to be replaced when replacing the rear ones. Front and rear wheel bearings serve similar functions but are independent of each other. They wear out at different rates depending on various factors such as driving conditions, vehicle load, and maintenance.
No, bearings do not wear in or form to each other. You only need to replace bearings that are actually bad.
A bad front wheel bearing when it fails completely can result in a sheering front spindle which means the entire tire, wheel, and breaking assembly comes off the car. If it happens at speed, the results are often disastrous. Similar results can occur with a failed rear wheel bearing as well.
For a typical car, the wheel bearing replacement price at a professional shop averages between $250 and $500 per wheel. Luxury vehicles and exotic or specialty models could be more than $700 due to higher part and labor costs.
To tell the difference between a bad wheel bearing and a bad CV joint, listen to the noise. If you hear a grinding, growling, or rumbling noise coming from the affected wheel, it's a bad wheel bearing. If you hear a clicking noise coming from the affected wheel when turning, it's a bad CV joint.
Vehicle Design and Usage: Some vehicles have wheel bearings that are integrated into the hub assembly. In such cases, it is more practical and often recommended to replace the entire hub assembly rather than attempting to replace only the bearing.
Wheel bearings have an average lifespan of 136,000 to 160,000 km (approximately 85,000 to 100,000 miles). This is only a rule of thumb though, the actual lifespan of a wheel bearing depends on the quality of the wheel bearing and the operating conditions.
If the wheel bearing is in bad shape, we will hear a grinding sound regardless of the speed we are driving at. The noise will speed up at the same rhythm that the car does and it gets louder or quieter when cornering, depending on whether the cornering inner or outer wheel bearing is defective.
This is reality, and can happen if you fail to notice the signs the wheel bearings are deteriorating and need immediate repairs. Your wheel bearing might be bad if you hear unusual sounds like humming, squeaking, or clicking. Some experts say a bad wheel bearing can sound like a bird chirping.
A front wheel bearing replacement on average takes just over 1 hour, but can take anywhere from under 1 hour to 2 hours.
A sure sign that your bearing has failed is vibration. If the raceway surface of the bearing becomes damaged by abrasion, the rolling elements (the balls or rollers) will bounce around on the raceway surface during operation, causing high levels of vibration.
As mentioned previously, the average life of wheel bearings is approximately 85,000-100,000 miles. However, that lifespan can be shortened if you hit a curb, speed bump, or pothole at high speeds. Contamination from water, mud, road salt, or sand can also shorten the life of your wheel bearings.
You can still drive with a bad wheel bearing, but we wouldn't recommend it for long distances. Keep your mileage to a minimum and look out for worsening symptoms of a wheel bearing fault; we cover the symptoms to check for later in this guide.
The cost of replacing wheel bearings varies as several variables, including the vehicle's make, model, type of bearing, cost of parts, and labor, come into play. The average cost of replacing a single wheel bearing is about $350, which means replacing all four wheel bearings will amount to $1,400.
The housing should only be half full of grease. Too much grease causes churning and higher temperatures. Semi-fluid grease must be used with a vented hub cap. It cannot be packed around the bearing as it will slump.
The spindle is a cylindrical rod that enables rotation around its axis while bearing the load that is imposed on it. The hub is the protective enclosure that houses the bearing while providing a stable, convenient point for installation and maintenance.
Once you notice any sign indicating a bad wheel bearing, avoid exceeding 500 miles with that issue. A failing wheel bearing will increase your difficulty in driving. But with a high-quality wheel bearing, you can drive for another 1000 miles as per the estimate.
Components like tires, CB joints and brakes can mimic wheel bearing noise. This is why interviewing the customer, going for a test drive and performing a rigorous visual inspection are critical to resolving the customer complaint.
Replacing a single axle usually takes about 1.5 to 3 hours, so replacing all four others can take up to 12 hours, which increases the cost if you factor in both parts and labor. However, replacing all four axles is optional. You can replace just one axle if it is all that is required.
1. "Clicking" Noises When Turning. Though it's sometimes described as a loud click and sometimes described as a pop, this noise is unmistakable once you hear it. It presents itself when you turn the vehicle, and it's due to the loose joints of a worn CV axle.