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.
What does a bad rear axle sound like?
The most common sound of a failed differential is
a whining noise
. This is often due to poor lubrication within the differential, meaning there is a good chance that the differential fluid is leaking.
How do I know if my rear axle bearings are bad?
- A humming, rumbling or growling noise that increases with acceleration or as the vehicle turns.
- A loud constant whining or grinding noise when the vehicle is in motion.
- Clunking noises when driving over uneven road surfaces.
How do I know if my rear wheel bearings need replacing?
- 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.
What happens when a rear wheel bearing goes bad?
If a wheel bearing goes bad,
more friction will be placed on the wheel, and the wheel will start to wobble
. … A bad wheel bearing can lead to uneven tire wear, which means you will have to purchase tires sooner.
How much does it cost to replace rear axle bearings?
As for the rear wheel bearings, they will be a tad cheaper to replace but this will of course depend on the car make and model. The cost of a complete rear wheel bearing replacement will be somewhere in area of
$240 to $460
. Parts will on average be between $100 and $180. The labor costs will be around $140 to $280.
What are the signs of a bad rear differential?
- Difficulty in handling. As the differential is the element which helps handle your vehicle in a turn, once it starts to wear out, precision is not something that will be on your side anymore. …
- Tire damage. …
- Vibrations. …
- Whining Noises. …
- Gear Grinding.
Can a bad rear end cause transmission problems?
Believe it or not, transmission damage from a rear-end collision is not that uncommon. Some
cars
are more susceptible to rear-end transmission damage, such as those with rear or all-wheel drive because the car’s transmission is actually a bit further back in the vehicle.
How do you diagnose a bad rear differential?
A bad rear differential will develop a
series of strange noises
. It could be a whirring noise, a humming noise, growling noise, or whining noise. However, the most common sound of a bad differential is whining or howling noise, indicating a damaged or worn-out ring and pinion gears.
How long does it take to replace a rear wheel bearing?
If it is a wheel bearing in the rear, it may take anywhere from
15 to 45 minutes
and if the hubs and wheel bearing is permanently bolted to the car it can take 20 minutes to an hour. Front-wheel bearings can take from 30 minutes to 1 hour and 30 minutes, all depending on your mechanic.
How do you check rear wheel bearings?
- Jack the rear wheel up. …
- Hold the wheel with one hand at the 12 o’clock position and with the other hand at the 6 o’clock position.
- Rotate the tire counterclockwise. …
- With your hands in the same position, rock the tire back and forth with moderate force.
How do you check rear wheel bearing noise?
Play in the Wheels – Most often this symptom will be identified by a technician. When
your vehicle is up on the lift
, a technician will grab the wheel on either side and attempt to rock it back and forth. If the wheel assembly wobbles back and forth, worn out wear bearings are likely the cause.
What happens if you don’t fix wheel bearings?
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.
How long can you drive on a bad 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.
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.
