Wheel bearings are the mechanical parts that connect the wheel and the hub. Defective or out of order wheel bearings can lead to severe accidents. If your car’s wheel bearings are faulty, you shouldn’t wait to change them. It is very dangerous to drive your car in these conditions, and you should have the vehicle checked as soon as possible by a professional mechanic.
What are Wheel Bearings?
Wheel bearings are the parts that allow smooth movement to the wheels of your vehicle. A wheel bearing comprises a set of steel balls which is located in a metal casing commonly called a cage. It is housed within the wheel’s hub. If you hear a humming or buzzing noise while driving, one of your wheel bearings is certainly in need of replacement.
If you hear rolling noises or vibrations that increase with speed, it’s time to change your car’s front or rear wheel bearings. The wheel bearing change is always carried out in pairs at the front or at the rear of the vehicle. The average life of a wheel bearing is 150,000 km, but they should be changed at the first signs of wear.
How do I Know if the Wheel Bearings Need Replacement?
- Grinding, squealing or abnormal sound coming from the wheels when driving
- The steering wheel shakes when you drive the ca
- If the wheel bearing is stuck, the wheel will struggle to move forward
Is it Safe to Drive with a Failed Wheel Bearing?
The bearings allow the wheels to spin freely and at the desired speed. They are also essential to allow the wheels to remain firmly attached to the vehicle. When bearings begin to wear or become damaged, it impacts the ability of the wheels to turn smoothly, freely and securely. Your vehicle will tend to shake when this happens, and your wheels will no longer be reliable.
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How is Wheel Bearing Replacement Done?
- Remove the brake rotor and calliper from the automobile with unitized wheel bearing or hub assemblies
- Remove the large axle nut, push the axle in through the unitized hub assembly’s centre, and unscrew the bolts that secure the hub assembly to the steering knuckle.
- The knuckle’s hub assembly is then removed. The bolts are bolted to the factory specification when the replacement hub assembly is fitted on the knuckle. The old axle nut must be discarded and replaced with a new one in many circumstances. Because over-or under-tightening can harm the newly installed bearing, special attention must be paid to tightening the axle nut to the exact manufacturer specification. On these necessary fasteners, all Swezo technicians utilize calibrated torque wrenches.
- Finally, the brake rotor and calliper are reattached, the wheel is mounted, and the vehicle is tested on the road.
- The steering knuckle is removed from the vehicle to remove the old wheel bearing and put in the new wheel bearing.
- The wheel bearing is forced onto an axle shaft on some vehicles, requiring the axle to be removed from the axle carrier.
Wrapping Up
If you hear a dull noise when your vehicle is running, it may come from the rolling of your wheels. Do not hesitate to have them inspected by a Swezo mechanic to check their condition and perform wheel bearing replacements if necessary!
