One way to check wheel-bearing play is to raise the wheels off the ground and rock the tires in and out while watching for any looseness. As a rule,
there should be no play on most FWD cars
, but up to . … Bearings do not loosen up under normal use.
What does it mean when a wheel bearing has play?
Wheel looseness
, or also called wheel play, is another common symptom of a bad wheel bearing. As the bearing begins to wear down, they become loose inside the wheel hub and spindle, which makes your vehicle feel loose while steering.
What is acceptable wheel bearing play?
There should be
zero detectable play
at the wheel bearing, and only barely discernible play at the diff output shaft bearings.
How much play can you have in a wheel bearing?
Re: Wheel bearing play – how much is too much? (
Not enough torque can actually cause premature failure. There should be
no more than . 002′′ bearing end play
(yes, 2 thousandths max). Any play is too much.
Can a wheel bearing be bad with no play?
Wheel bearings can still wear out even with very minimal to no play
. They can develop metal debri in them and cause abnormal sounds.
How long will a wheel bearing last after it starts making noise?
However, a wheel bearing can last an average of anywhere from 136,000 to 160,000 km which is
about 85,000 to 100,000 miles
.
What does it sound like when a wheel bearing is going out?
Squealing & Growling
The classic sounds of a bad wheel bearing are cyclic chirping, squealing and/or growling noise. You can also tell that the sound is related to wheel bearings if it changes in proportion to vehicle speed. The sound can get worse with every turn, or it can disappear momentarily.
How long can you drive on a bad wheel bearing?
Can a vehicle keep going even after hearing noises from the wheel bearing? You can go
about 1000-1500 miles
before it will give up on you and fail, which means it is a danger to yourself and others until then. You should get to a mechanic as soon as possible.
What happens if you don’t fix a wheel bearing?
Ultimate damage: If you don’t replace a damaged wheel bearing before it fails completely,
the wheel will completely seize up
. If this happens while you’re driving, the results can be catastrophic. This is not a component to take chances with.
What are the signs of a bad wheel bearing?
- Humming Noise. The most easily identifiable and most common symptom of bad wheel bearings is an audible one. …
- Squealing, Growling. …
- Clicking Sound. …
- Wheel Wobble. …
- ABS Failure. …
- Uneven Tire Wear. …
- Vehicle Pulls to One Side. …
- Steering Wheel Vibration.
How long should wheel bearings last?
How long does a wheel bearing last? Wheel bearings have an average lifespan of 136,000 to 160,000 km
(approximately 85,000 to 100,000 miles)
.
Are there wheel bearings on rear wheels?
Wheel bearings usually come in pairs of inner and outer bearings. … Usually,
only the non-drive wheels
(that is, the front wheels on rear-wheel drive vehicles and the rear wheels on front-wheel drive vehicles) have repackable wheel bearings.
How expensive is it to replace a wheel bearing?
On average, a wheel bearing alone will cost you
between $60 – $150
, and an entire bearing and hub assembly replacement is around $200 – $400 for each wheel depending on your vehicle type.
How can you tell the difference between bad CV joints and bad wheel bearings?
Often, a bad CV axle will make a
clicking noise
when steering the car left or right. A bad bearing makes an intermittent roaring noise, until it fails catastrophically. CV joints clunk or make louder noises on tight turns. Wheel bearings get louder with speed.
Can you drive with a noisy wheel bearing?
If a wheel bearing starts to get worn, it will start to make a noise
. It is not a good idea to drive with a worn wheel bearing because it is an essential part of holding the wheel onto your vehicle. … A rumbling or humming sound is another sign of a worn wheel bearing.
