Physics had made it clear that if a worn-out wheel bearing is found in a functioning automobile it may cause wear and tear on the engine and thus may lead to it breaking down. For that reason, a car must possess a good bearing in both wheels (rear and front)in order for it to function properly.
Bearings are sets of steel that look like balls. They are held together with a metal ring (race) and these small pieces of metal help the wheels of cars spin faster with little or no friction. They are found in all cars and also all mechanically moveable engines worldwide. They’re placed on a metal axle shaft that fits tightly into the hub (the hollow chunk of metal inside of the wheel located at the centre). It is held in place with a lug bolt, which tightens into the wheel of the car and presses it from behind.
The rear and front bearing of a vehicle are found mostly on the wheels and are greatly involved in the keeping the vehicle in balance when in motion as it supports both horizontal and lateral loading of the car. These bearings require enough lubrication to prevent the breaking down of vehicles and are self-sufficient enough to prevent water and dust when in motion.
There are two types of bearings that make a machine complete its task; the roller bearing – which is the tiny drum that gives support to the load, and the taper bearing – which supports the horizontal and lateral loading of the car.
HOW TO DIAGNOSE A BAD REAR AND FRONT BEARING
The signs produced by a worn bearing in wheel varies in severity and for that reason, it is sometimes difficult to take note of. This is correlated to the driving period and also the condition of driving – whether it is driven on smooth or rough roads. With noise been an excellent indicator of a bad wheel bearing hub, the following are additional signs or symptoms of a bad rear and front bearing.
Clicking: This type of sound on a bearing is usually associated with front wheel drive vehicles and mostly occurs in the CV joint of the wheel. It is usually a loud sound – similar to a ball hitting the floor. It mostly related to excessive usage of bearing endplay and inadequate clamping. This noise is usually heard when making a sharp turn with a car at motion.
Grinding: This occurs mostly when the car is in motion and is mechanically damaged caused by the wheel end system. You can hear a noise when a shift occurs in the horizontal and lateral portion of the car.
Tire wear: This is another symptom of a bad bearing and is associated mostly with worn out or damaged suspended components of the vehicle. Sometimes, it is caused by inflation of the tire or wrong selection of tire, as these will be a burden on both types of wheel bearings. If the bearing has started to fail, it might cause tire damage.
Humming: This is usually associated with the rear wheel as it might cause greater sounds in the deadening part of the car. This is mainly dependent on the speed of the car in motion, because the higher the speed, the higher the noise heard. The other symptoms associated with bearings break failure, and vibrations at a high speed, along with others.
Wheel Bearing Replacement Cost
If you’d like to fix a damaged bearing, you should first consider what type of vehicle you are working on. Additionally, check how much it’ll cost to get fixed. It is usually anywhere between $350 and $470. Sometimes, however, it does require work from a professional mechanic, as the procedure could prove difficult. In that case, labour costs could go up to about $250 dollars, depending on the body shop and work done.
The process involves raising the car with the use of a jack, removing the bearing and replacing it – which may sound easy in theory, but one would need the correct apparatus and tools to use in order to complete this at home. Essentially, it’s easier and more reliable to visit a body shop to do the work for you.
