How To Properly Diagnose Wheel Bearing Failure

For most men, learning how to drive can feel like a rite of passage. Your first car signified your transition into adulthood as cars represent some sort of personal freedom. From behind the wheel, the road ahead feels empowering. 

But car ownership also requires a sense of responsibility.  

As a discerning owner, or even simply as a car enthusiast, knowing how to properly diagnose car problems will prevent more serious issues down the line. And one troubleshooting issue every car owner should be able to diagnose is bearing failure. 

As a trusted technical service provider in the region, we’ve seen how catastrophic wheel bearing failure can be. Continuing to drive with a faulty bearing can cause the wheel to completely disconnect from the axle. The inability to steer leads to unsafe driving conditions and much more complicated situations. 

This can have severe consequences for you, your passengers, and other drivers on the road.

The main causes of bearing failure

Like any other car component, wheel bearings are subject to wear and tear. The lifespan of your wheel bearings is dependent on whether they’re original equipment (OE), the quality of the bearings themselves, and driving conditions. 

Even so, most wheel bearings will last anywhere from 136,000 to 160,000 km (85,000 to 100,000 miles). Meaning, most wheel bearings today should last the lifetime of your vehicle. 

If your wheel bearings fail before its expected lifespan, it may be due to one of the following conditions:

Poor installation 

Wheel bearings must be mounted according to the manufacturer’s recommendations. 

For most bearings, this means being mounted with a press or interference fit on the bearing’s rotating ring. Improper mounting techniques, such as applying blows to the bearing can distort bearing components. 

Even a distortion as tiny as two-thousandths of an inch can cause premature failure. 

This is why it’s highly recommendable to reach out to your trusted mechanic or technical service provider who will help you with the right installation practices and with the right mounting tools.

Improper lubrication 

To be able to operate under extreme conditions, your bearings must be able to effectively reduce friction. Too much heat generated by friction can cause your bearings to deteriorate, leading to failure.  

To prevent excessive friction from building up in the bearing rolling elements, a proper lubrication solution is required. 

Lubricant failure is the primary cause of premature breakdown, accounting for approximately 80 percent of all bearing failures. 

To ensure that bearings are always appropriately lubricated, the right type of lubricant must be used according to the temperature, nature and demand of the application. The best grease for bearings is a multipurpose grease that works with a wide range of speeds and operating temperatures and is virtually waterproof. However, different applications like heavy duty, food industry and high speed applications require a lubricant that has a different chemical composition. 

Severe operating conditions 

Certain driving conditions can significantly reduce bearing lifespan. Roads with potholes, for example, can damage a wheel bearing, causing small imperfections. These imperfections can cause excessive heat and friction, quickly wearing away the bearing components. 

Similarly, driving on a street flooded with water can increase the risk that foreign contaminants get past the bearing seal. Contaminated grease can cause degradation, which can induce erosion, corrosion, or fatigue within the bearing.

Poor bearing quality 

When it comes to bearing replacement, quality trumps quantity. While certain economy bearing manufacturers will allow you to save on upfront costs, the quality of their material can wear out quicker than OE-quality bearings. 

This will result in you needing to replace your bearings more frequently and dealing with high-cost repairs and servicing.

Car modifications 

Cosmetic or performance modifications like fitting wider rims onto your car can cause higher than normal loads, accelerating wear on your wheel bearings. To ensure your bearings continue to perform to the full length of its expected lifespan, only use OEM-approved modifications.

Symptoms of a worn wheel bearing

Now that we have a clear overview of the common causes of bearing failure, let’s examine the symptoms that indicate a worn-out wheel bearing.

1.     Noise 

The first signal that you may need to replace your wheel bearings is a loud grinding or roaring sound coming from one of your wheels. A grinding noise will indicate that mechanical damage has already occurred in the wheel assembly. 

Other noises you might hear that could indicate worn wheel bearings include rumbling, growling, clicking, snapping, and popping. 

Because your wheel bearings are connected to other components in the wheel assembly, don’t immediately assume that a noise heard from the wheel area is a bearing problem. Bring your vehicle to an automotive professional to have it inspected.

2.     Steering wheel vibrations 

While vibration or shaking in the steering wheel may be an indicator of bearing failure, other issues such as out-of-balance tires can also be a contributing factor. 

An easy way to differentiate between a tire balance problem and bearing failure will be to notice the speed in which vibration occurs. Steering wheel vibration due to misalignment or unbalanced tires typically becomes noticeable at higher speeds. 

Vibrations due to wheel bearing failure can be noticed at much slower speeds. What’s more, steering wheel vibrations will also be noticeable during turning. Aside from vibrations, noise from the tire area will also be present.

3.     Excessive play in the wheels 

Excessive wobble or play can also point to worn bearings. However, this symptom is harder to diagnose. 

To confirm what that additional play in the tires means, you’ll need to jack up the vehicle. Once your car is lifted off the ground, grab the tire at 6 o’clock and 12 o’clock. Attempt to rock it back and forth. The “wiggle” room you feel when rocking your tire is play. 

If your tire feels loose when you rock it back and forth, your wheel bearings may be worn. A mechanic can confirm your diagnosis.

4.     Uneven tire wear 

There are many reasons that can lead to your tires experiencing abnormal wear — from improper alignment and over- or under-inflation to worn suspension components and loose wheel bearings. To diagnose if your tire wear is bearing-related, examine its wear pattern. 

If it displays cupping, scalloping, feathering, or diagonal wear, the main culprit could very well be a worn bearing.

5.     Abnormal pulling 

If your car tends to slightly pull to one side, particularly during braking, you may have a bearing problem. But brake pull can be easily misdiagnosed as it can be caused by several issues such as warped rotors, worn suspension components, or a defective caliper. 

To confirm the source of the fault, have an automotive technician inspect your vehicle. 

Knowing what symptoms to look for can help you take corrective action before more damage can occur. 

If you detect any of these warning signs, consider having a certified mechanic inspect your vehicle. Not only can they appropriately troubleshoot the problem, but they also have the skills and experience to properly refit your bearings should they be the culprit.

AUTHOR BIO

Hassanein Alwan is the Managing Director of Mineral Circles Bearings with more than 10 years' experience in the bearing industry's technical support division, sales and marketing, plus strategic business development consultancy.

Reference:

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