Wheel bearings play very important in the suspension of a vehicle. Drivers can easily locate them in the hub assembly where wheels and brakes are attached. The bearings enable the wheel to rotate and as a result turn freely as the vehicle travels. Most cars have both outer and inner bearings in all wheels. The following is a close look at these bearings that will definitely let you understand fully what they are as well common bearing issues and how they are diagnosed.
Basics of car bearings
Most of the modern vehicles contain bearings with seals. The seals improve bearing performance and extend their lifetime as sealed ones can last up to 150,000 miles or more. The seals protect the bearings and hubs from outside contaminants such as dirt …show more content…
Some of the latest vehicles have wheel speed sensors with antilock brakes which are used to check and measure bearing issues on vehicles. Excessive wear, looseness or play within the hub makes the sensor rings to move when rotating.
Types of bearings
There are three major types namely; roller, ball and hub bearings. Hub bearings provide lower reduction of vehicle power and fraction rating. It works on both heavy-duty and lightweight vehicles since they have very powerful containments. Ball bearings are the most popular bearings in the market today. They feature an intricate design that handles both radial and thrust loads. Conversely, the roller bearings feature a design that uses a cylinder-shape to distribute weight within a large area allowing them to handle large amounts of loads.
Signs of worn out wheel bearings
There are very many signs of a worn out or damaged bearings. Some of them are hard to detect and often lead to damage even before a corrective action is taken. The rate at which the damage occurs is dependent on the quality of bearings, driving conditions and the professionalism of the technicians who installed them. Noise is the classic sign of worn out bearings although there are other signs of bearing-end damage as outlined …show more content…
This ensures any issue is detected and corrected first before building up and failing you. Avoid driving when you feel wheels or steering wheel shake as it is a major characteristic of failing bearings. In this case, you can inspect the bearing on your own although it is advisable to call a professional mechanic. The older bearings may need replacement or cleaning and greasing to restore their optimal performance. The mechanic will advise you accordingly depending on the nature of problem in your vehicle’s bearings. So, be sure to keep this in mind and for real, you will be assured of a properly functioning hub
Basics of car bearings
Most of the modern vehicles contain bearings with seals. The seals improve bearing performance and extend their lifetime as sealed ones can last up to 150,000 miles or more. The seals protect the bearings and hubs from outside contaminants such as dirt …show more content…
Some of the latest vehicles have wheel speed sensors with antilock brakes which are used to check and measure bearing issues on vehicles. Excessive wear, looseness or play within the hub makes the sensor rings to move when rotating.
Types of bearings
There are three major types namely; roller, ball and hub bearings. Hub bearings provide lower reduction of vehicle power and fraction rating. It works on both heavy-duty and lightweight vehicles since they have very powerful containments. Ball bearings are the most popular bearings in the market today. They feature an intricate design that handles both radial and thrust loads. Conversely, the roller bearings feature a design that uses a cylinder-shape to distribute weight within a large area allowing them to handle large amounts of loads.
Signs of worn out wheel bearings
There are very many signs of a worn out or damaged bearings. Some of them are hard to detect and often lead to damage even before a corrective action is taken. The rate at which the damage occurs is dependent on the quality of bearings, driving conditions and the professionalism of the technicians who installed them. Noise is the classic sign of worn out bearings although there are other signs of bearing-end damage as outlined …show more content…
This ensures any issue is detected and corrected first before building up and failing you. Avoid driving when you feel wheels or steering wheel shake as it is a major characteristic of failing bearings. In this case, you can inspect the bearing on your own although it is advisable to call a professional mechanic. The older bearings may need replacement or cleaning and greasing to restore their optimal performance. The mechanic will advise you accordingly depending on the nature of problem in your vehicle’s bearings. So, be sure to keep this in mind and for real, you will be assured of a properly functioning hub