Bad wheel bearings are most easily identified by audible humming, squealing, or clicking sounds, but other symptoms include uneven tire wear, wheel wobble, ABS failure, steering wheel vibration, or steering that feels loose.

Wheel bearings are an incredibly important component of your vehicle’s steering, suspension, and braking systems, located within the wheel assembly hub. In a fundamental sense, wheel bearings allow your wheels to spin with minimal rolling friction and support the entire weight of your car. If one or more of your wheel bearings start to fail and the problem isn’t addressed, it can actually result in an entire wheel breaking off.

Knowing how to recognize an issue with your wheel bearings—before it spirals out of control—can be a real life-saver. That's why

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What is a wheel bearing?

In the most basic sense, wheel bearings are a set of steel ball bearings (or tapered bearings), contained and held together by a metal, grease-filled ring called a race. They are a crucial component of the wheel assembly—the part which connects your vehicle to the axles—allowing your wheels to rotate as smoothly as possible without high friction.

Wheel bearings are also designed to sustain heavy radial and axial loads—think the weight of your entire car—and aid in the proper functioning of your vehicle’s steering, suspension, and braking systems, making it easier to accelerate, slow down, and turn corners.

How long do wheel bearings last?

In theory, your wheel bearings should last the lifespan of your vehicle, provided you aren’t regularly subjecting your vehicle to conditions that speed up their wear and tear. Your wheel bearings can, however, be damaged—especially if you hit a speed bump, pothole, or tall curb at high speeds—in which case they would have to be replaced.

Wheel bearings can also go bad if water, sand, dirt, or road salt breaches the seal and comes in contact with the bearings. These substances will contaminate the grease around your bearings and act as an abrasive, causing them to wear down prematurely.

MORE:

How to remove axle bearings

Symptoms of a bad wheel bearing

If one of your wheel bearings has started to go bad or has become damaged and needs replacing, you’ll likely notice one or more of the following symptoms:

Humming, squealing, or clicking sounds: If you start to hear any of these sounds, especially when accelerating, you may be dealing with a bad wheel bearing.

Uneven tire wear: If one wheel seems to be wearing faster than the others, it may be the result of a faulty wheel bearing.

Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) failure: Due to the ABS sensor being integrated into the wheel end bearing, a bad wheel bearing can cause the entire system to fail.

Wheel wobble: If your wheel can wobble or be shaken, there is something wrong with the hub assembly, meaning the wheel bearings are potentially at fault.

Vehicle listing to one side: If you notice your vehicle pulling to one side when the brakes are applied, it could be caused by a bad wheel bearing on that side of the vehicle.

Vibration of the steering wheel: Bad wheel bearings can also result in steering wheel vibration, most noticeable when accelerating or making turns.

Loose or sloppy steering: Though it isn’t always the case, bad wheel bearings can make your steering less responsive and reliable.

The important thing to remember is that many of these symptoms can be caused by other issues with your vehicle. If you start to experience one or more of them, visit a mechanic as soon as possible and have them diagnose the exact problem.

How much does it cost to replace a wheel bearing?

If it turns out one of your wheel bearings has started to go bad, you’ll need to have it replaced, preferably as soon as possible. Driving on a faulty wheel bearing is a veritable ticking time bomb and can end with your entire wheel breaking off.

Generally, you can expect this service to cost at least $350 per wheel bearing—just know that the price can increase significantly depending on your vehicle make and model, labor costs, and the parts themselves.

MORE: Why does my steering wheel shake, and how do I fix it?

How to save money on car insurance

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FAQs

What do wheel bearings do?

As an integral component of your vehicle’s wheel assemblies, wheel bearings allow your wheels to spin smoothly and with minimal friction. They are designed to bear extreme weight and help sustain the heavy axial load caused by accelerating, braking, and turning corners.

How do I know if my wheel bearings need to be replaced?

If you start to notice any of the following symptoms, one or more of your wheel bearings will likely need replacing: an audible humming, growling, or clicking sound, vibration of the steering wheel, loose or sloppy steering, failure of the anti-lock brake system (ABS), uneven tire wear, the vehicle pulling to one side, or wheel wobbling.

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