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What Are Rear Wheel Bearings? A bearing, be it wheel or any other is used to reduce friction. Without the wheel bearing in your car, the wheel would likely slide as opposed to roll. When wheel bearings begin to breakdown and fail to roll, drivers may notice significant differences as they drive.
How much does it cost to replace a rear wheel bearing?
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.
Can you drive car with bad wheel bearing?
Q: Is it safe to drive with a bad wheel bearing? A: No. It can, in fact, be very dangerous to drive if one of your bearings is worn out, especially since it may cause the wheel to stop while driving. Additionally, a damaged wheel bearing puts a lot of stress on the hub, the CV joint, and the transmission itself.
What are the symptoms of a bad rear wheel bearing?
Signs your wheel bearings are worn out include: Shaky Steering Wheel When Driving. When you drive, you may notice that your steering wheel and, in more extreme cases, the entire car feels as if it is shaking. Reduced Acceleration When Driving. Grinding Sounds. Unevenly Worn Tires. Vibrating Steering Wheel.
Can you replace just one wheel bearing?
If bearings go bad at one wheel, it is unnecessary to replace the bearings at the other wheel on the same axle. Don’t let someone talk you into work that is not needed. Get the price estimate for wheel bearing replacement for your make and model of car.
What causes a wheel bearing to go?
The main reasons that a wheel bearing fails are: Impact damage or poor road quality – all impacts from driving through a pothole, driving over speed bumps or hitting the curbstone can damage a wheel bearing and reduce its lifespan. Poor quality wheel bearing – a wheel bearing is continuously under enormous pressure.
How long will a wheel bearing last after it starts making noise?
Typically, a wheel bearing should last roughly 1,000 to 1,500 miles after it starts making noise. This doesn’t mean you should keep driving since a noisy wheel bearing is always a risk. When your wheel bearings are making noise, it’s a sign that something is not working properly and might fail when you’re driving.
How long does it take to fix a wheel bearing?
How long does it take to replace Wheel Bearings? Replacing a single wheel bearing can take 90 to 120 minutes depending on the type of vehicle and complexity. There are a lot of moving parts that need to be maintained and properly sealed to complete this type of work.
How long can you drive on a bad rear wheel bearing?
In cases where you are in an isolated spot and your wheel bearing starts to go bad, you can possibly drive for about 1600 kilometers. Driving to this distance may not cause significant damage to your wheels.
Should I replace both rear wheel bearings at the same time?
Both wheel bearings have racked up the same number of miles, so it’s logical to conclude that both sides have probably experienced the same amount of wear. Based on this line of thinking, it would make sense to recommend replacing both wheel bearing hubs at the same time even though only one has obviously failed.
What happens when wheel bearing fails?
If your wheel bearing fails, it can cause the wheel to stop while you are driving or possibly even to fall off. At the very least, before a wheel falls off, a failed wheel bearing can/will cause significant damage to your vehicle, so it’s very important to keep an eye on these and keep them maintained.
Can you replace a wheel bearing without replacing the hub?
On some cars, you can just replace the bearing and call it a day. On others, the hub assembly must be removed and replaced. The most difficult type involves removing the hub assembly and setting it in a press. If you’re not sure what type of wheel hub assembly you have, stop by or give your local Pep Boys store a call.
What happens if you don’t replace wheel bearing?
If you ignore bad wheel bearings, your wheel could stop working while driving, or you could have issues steering your car. In addition to the danger, it can put a lot of strain on other parts of your vehicle, such as the hub, CV joint, and transmission.
How do you diagnose 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.
Do wheel bearings affect brakes?
We found significant play in the bearing, which can lead to a soft brake pedal. Brake rotors are held in alignment by wheel bearings. If you have a faulty or loose wheel bearing, the rotor will wobble on its axis. This causes a low or spongy brake pedal.
Is changing a wheel bearing hard?
Replacing a wheel bearing that comes as an assembly with the hub and bolts to the spindle or steering knuckle is not very difficult if you have proper skills, tools and the manual. Of course, the large axle nut is very tight and can be difficult to remove.
Does a bad wheel bearing affect gas mileage?
If the torque applied was too high the bearings can be put into excessive pre-load, or if the torque was too low, the bearings can have excessive endplay. Both of which could affect fuel economy and the performance of the bearings over time.
How important is it to replace wheel bearings?
The absence of wheel bearings in good condition can ultimately lead to uneven wear on your tires and brakes, as well as other serious damage to the vehicle. It can also increase your risk of getting involved in a car accident.
