5 FAQ About Wheel Hub Bearings

 

 

The more your shop knows about wheel hub bearings, the better you can serve your customers. Below, you'll find 5 common questions technicians have about wheel hub bearings.

 

1. Can Potholes Really Cause Severe Wheel Bearing Damage?

Short answer, is yes. Under normal circumstances, wheel bearings last a long time. Yet, potholes can do quite a number on bearings. Potholes can cause a small indentation in the bearing races. When that happens, the bearings get hung up in the depression in the race. That means the wheel bearing can't rotate as freely anymore. In addition, the bearing now has slightly more slop. Over time, the problem gets worse and worse.

It's important to be able to pinpoint why the wheel bearing was damaged. Potholes are one of the most common, yet overlooked, causes of wheel bearing damage. Here's a list of signs that indicate possible pothole damage to the wheel bearing:

• Clunking noise

• Rattling noise

• Shaky steering wheel

• Wobbly wheel

• Poor alignment

• Tire marks on the wheel well

• Damaged bump stops

• Wheel damage (cracks or dents)

 

2. How Can I Make Sure The Air Gap For A Wheel Speed Sensor Is Correct After Installing A Bearing?

It's important to keep the right distance (air gap) between the end of a wheel speed sensor and its ring. If the gap is too wide, the signal won't be strong or reliable. It'll be weak, erratic, or nonexistent. If the gap is too close, there may be some metal-to-metal contact.

When you install a new wheel bearing, the wheel speed sensor gap might change. When this happens, the ABS light will come on in the customer's car after they leave your shop. To prevent this from happening, check the wheel sensor gap after installing a wheel bearing. To do this:

• Attach a voltmeter to the wheel speed sensor's terminals.

• With your hand, spin the tire at a rate of about 1 revolution per second.

• Check the reading on the voltmeter. If the air gap is correct, the wheel speed sensor will generate between 50 and 77 millivolts AC. If the output is low, or if there's no output, the gap may be too wide.

 

3. Can Bad Alignment Angles Like Camber And Toe Cause Premature Failure Of A Wheel Bearing?

Yes. A bad alignment angle can cause a wheel bearing to fail. If the vehicle is out of alignment, the driver has to keep the steering wheel turned slightly to keep the car going straight. This adds stress to the wheel bearing, and ultimately causes the bearing to wear down faster.

 

4. How Should Surfaces On Axles And CV Joints Be Cleaned Or Polished Before A Bearing Is Replaced?

When replacing a wheel bearing, it's good practice to clean or polish the bearing surfaces on axles and CV joints. It's to help extend the life of the axles and CV joints. By cleaning those parts, you would be removing sludge, metal shavings, and any old differential oil that has been sitting there for a while.

The proper way to clean or polish those parts is to:

• Remove those parts from the vehicle.

• Cover the surfaces with brake cleaner or another degreaser.

• Wipe down the surfaces with a dry shop rag until clean.

If you find any hardened grease stuck on the axle, scrub it with a non-metallic scrubbing pad and degreaser.

 

5. What Is The Proper Inspection Method For A Seal?

You can visually inspect the wheel bearing seal. Grab a flashlight and then inspect it for:

• Leaks

• Cracks

• Twists

• Breakage

Sometimes the cracks are so fine that they are difficult to see. It takes a little patience to do a thorough inspection.

 

We are a Truck Hub Bearing supplier. Please feel free to contact us if you need them!

What are the risks of driving with bad wheel bearings?

The symptoms of bad wheel bearings include:

• 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.

• Looseness, excessive play in the steering wheel (vague steering);

• Steering wheel vibration which changes with the vehicle speed or as the vehicle turns;

• ABS malfunctioning. ABS system issues can be related to failure of the ABS sensor that is integrated in the wheel end bearing.

It's very rare for wheel bearings to fail immediately and completely after you notice the first symptom(s).

Having said that, it is best to avoid driving with a worn wheel bearing for any length of time. As we've already seen, the wheel bearing is essential for connecting your wheel to your car, and any weakness in this connection could have severe consequences for your drive-axle and steering assembly – as well as for your safety.

Replacing your wheel bearings

Despite the fact that modern wheel bearings are easier to install than previous generations, correct installation, the usage of appropriate tools and respecting the specified torque values are still essential for maximum performance, durability and safety. Therefore, we recommend having your wheel bearings fitted by a professional mechanic that has the skills and the tools to do the job.  

 

Quality replacement parts

When replacing your wheel bearings, it is essential to look for high-quality parts. MOOG offers a complete range of easy to install, premium quality, long-lasting wheel end bearings that are engineered, manufactured, tested, and validated to OEM standards for maximum performance and durability.

Longfei Bearing has more than 20 years of experience in automobile bearing design and manufacturing, which can meet the most stringent requirements of customers. Products through ISO/TS16949, ISO9001, THE EU CE certification, and other certificates, won domestic and worldwide customer recognition. The initial design concept of the plant was to produce bearings of high quality and performance based on the following core principles.

We would love to hear your feedback! Contact us to share your thoughts!

Telltale Signs of A Worn Wheel Hub Bearing and Common Causes of Failure

 

1. Unusual Noises

“Unusual noises” is quite vague, but for a good reason. There are many, many unusual noises associated with a worn wheel hub bearing. Some of the most common noises include:

Knocking/Clunking Noise While Turning

When a wheel hub bearing wears out, it puts extra stress on the CV-joint. That can cause the knocking/clunking noise when you turn the vehicle.

Crackling Noise

The crackling noise is a result of a worn or damaged outer CV-joint. It may also mean excessive bearing endplay due to poor clamping.

Rumbling/Growling Noise

This noise is particularly prominent when the vehicle is traveling in a straight line. It gets worse when the vehicle is turning slightly at a speed of 15-50 mph. In a normal situation, you can pinpoint the problematic wheel bearing if you hear this noise. In most cases, the bad bearing is the cause of the rumbling noise.

Grinding Noise

If you hear a grinding noise, that means there’s a loss of integrity in the steering or suspension system. For instance, there may be roller or raceway damage. When you have a worn wheel hub bearing, this noise is prominent when the vehicle is turning.

If you’re hearing unusual noises, this guide will help you determine which wheel hub is bad.

2. Loose Steering Wheel

When a wheel hub bearing goes bad, you may feel some looseness in the steering wheel. When a bearing wears down, it becomes loose within the wheel hub and spindle. This will make your steering wheel feel loose.

3. Vehicle Pulling To The Side When Brakes Are Applied

Worn bearings become loose. As a result, excessive runout happens. This causes the brakes to pulsate or pull. In other cases, a corroded or pitted bearing transmits the vibration through the steering. This can cause pulling to one side, too. Your vehicle will pull to the side of the failed wheel bearing.

4. Uneven Tire Wear

This happens when the wheel bearing becomes bad enough. Most likely, you will hear noises before uneven tire wear happens. A worn wheel bearing makes the wheel loose. This causes the tire to wear out unevenly.

5. Wheel Vibration And Wobble

When your wheel is vibrating and/or wobbling, the bearing is very loose. It’s because the bearing has lost its clamp. There may be some severe mechanical damage, too.

At Longfei Bearing, we make OE-quality wheel hub assemblies for many different makes and models. As a high-end brand in automobile-bearing manufacturing industry, Longfei Bearing has more than 20 years of experience in automobile bearing design and manufacturing, which can meet the most stringent requirements of customers. Products through ISO/TS16949, ISO9001, THE EU CE certification, and other certificates, won domestic and worldwide customer recognition. The initial design concept of the plant was to produce bearings of high quality and performance based on the following core principles.

We would love to hear your feedback! Contact us to share your thoughts!