The Wheel Bearing is a critical piece of the Wheel Hub Assembly. It is the part that connects the wheel and the axle together. More specifically, the wheel bearing is a collection of steel balls, or ball bearings, that’s connected by a metal ring. The bearings make your car safer to drive because they are designed to withstand radial and axial loads from acceleration, gravitation, breaking and cornering forces. Over time, the wheel bearings will stop working properly, so it is something that you’ll wind up replacing if you have your vehicle long enough.

What is the Average Service Life of a Wheel Bearing?

Once your vehicle has more than 75,000 miles logged, the front wheel bearing and the rear wheel bearing could start to fail. However, some last over 100,000 miles. The hub that contains and holds the bearings is attached to the wheel’s spindle, and this is connected to the rest of your vehicle’s suspension. When bearings start to fail, they may make a grinding, hissing or whirring noise. If you hear this type of noise coming from your vehicle, be sure to take it to a mechanic right away. Once a bearing breaks down, it can take other parts with it, costing you more.

A more apparent sign that your car is suffering from failed wheel bearings is violent shaking that worsens and becomes more intense with speed. If your vehicle starts doing this, don’t risk and drive it. Take it to a professional mechanics immediately.

What Causes Wheel Bearings Fail?

There are many reasons that cause wheel bearings to fail, include:
• Incorrect installation
• Damage from road impacts
• Driving conditions
• Vehicle modifications

Incorrect Installation

Vehicle’s original manufacturer and Wheel Bearing’s manufacturer recommend to use a torque wrench for installation. Inappropriate tools, such as an impact wrench or a hammer, can cause damage to the interior or exterior of the wheel bearings, causing them to break down sooner than they should. Along with this, attempting to “save money” by reusing old nuts, bolts or seals instead of replacing them can result in wheel bearings operating under more challenging conditions. This is something else that can bring about premature failure. Using wrong tool can cause over-torqueing or under-torqueing. Torque the wheel bearing strictly according vehicle manufacturer’s specification is critical to the success of the installation and more importantly, safety of the vehicle.