Wheel bearings are a necessary component for your vehicle's hub, tire, and wheel assemblies to work correctly. A wheel bearing comes in a set of round, metal pieces known as ball bearings held together by a ring. These little pieces allow for a smooth rotation and movement of the hub assembly, which is a critical piece of your vehicle's steering system. Each wheel has its own wheel bearings, so a typical car should have four sets total. Your wheel bearings have a heavy impact on the handling of your vehicle. It would be extremely dangerous to drive with old wheel bearings, as it may cause your wheels to stop turning entirely and abruptly.
You should expect to replace wheel bearings every 85,000-100,000 miles. However, this number is only a guess, as it also depends on the quality of the bearings. Unless both bearings on all side of the wheels are overworked, there is no need to replace them all at once. You should only swap out the ones that need it.
What Are Signs That Indicate You Need to Replace Wheel Bearings?
- Odd noises. These sonances can be loud whining or grinding that only happen when the vehicle is in motion. The sounds can also be clunking noises, rumbling, or growling noises that intensify with the vehicle's acceleration and speed.
- A pulsing shake on the steering wheel develops when the vehicle turns or accelerates.
- Looseness on the steering wheel.
- Your car veers left or right.
- Uneven wear on tires.
If you need auto repairs, such as the replacement of wheel bearings, we welcome you to bring your vehicle to Kamphaus Auto Care. You can trust our experienced service team to give your car the proper care it needs. Give us a call or visit our shop today.