how to tell if your wheel bearing is bad

The wheel bearings are two metal or rubber cones that allow the wheels to spin smoothly on the axle. The inner race of the bearing fits into a groove in the hub of the wheel and the outer race fits into a groove in the axle shaft. This allows for smooth rotation with little friction and minimal wear.

A worn out bearing will cause excessive noise and vibration when driving at highway speeds. You may also notice that your steering wheel shakes or vibrates when you apply brakes or slow down on pavement with joints in it (such as expansion joints).

This is one of those things where it's best to have someone else look at it if possible. If they say they hear a clunking sound when you turn left, then it's probably your front right wheel bearing (or rear right if you're looking at it from behind). If they say there is no clunking sound, but there is still some play between the tires and road, then it could be either rear left or front left wheel bearing (or rear left or front right if you're looking from behind).

Listen for noise.

You can tell if your wheel bearing is bad by listening for noise. If you hear a clicking or humming sound, it's likely that you have a problem with one of your wheels. The sound may vary in pitch and intensity depending on how fast you're driving and how much weight the vehicle is carrying at the time.

If you hear any unusual noises while driving, pull over and check your tires to see if they're flat. If they are all inflated properly, then you should check your wheel bearings for damage or wear.

If the noise comes from just one side of the vehicle, it's likely that one of your wheel bearings is damaged. If both sides make the same noise, then there could be an issue with the drive shafts or axles themselves.

Get a visual inspection.

Visual inspection - Check for any visible signs of damage such as rust, corrosion or pitting on the outer race (the steel ring that slides within its casing). If there are signs of wear on the inner race (the metal ring that fits around the ball-shaped bearing), then it may be time for replacement too.

Feel for roughness - Sometimes you can feel vibrations through your hands when you hold onto the steering wheel while driving down the road; this is known as "hand test." If there is any roughness at all, this could indicate worn-out bearings and should be inspected further.

Raise your vehicle.

To tell if your wheel bearing is bad, you need to raise your vehicle. This is to give you more room to work on the wheel bearings. You can use a lift or jack stands, but make sure that the car is secure before getting under it.

once the car is raised, you can remove the wheel cover and set it aside. Then look at the inner lip of the hub assembly and see if there are grease fittings coming from it. These are usually covered by metal caps, so you will need to remove them. once you have done this and removed all of these caps, you need to add some grease or oil into each one until they are full. Try not to overfill them with grease because this can cause problems later on down the road.

Inspect the tire tread.

If you see worn or missing tread, it's time for new tires.

Check for uneven wear.

If one side of a tire has more or less tread than the other side, that can be an indication of a bad wheel bearing. It's also possible to see this in different parts of the same tire.

Inspect for bumps and bulges.

If you notice bumps or bulges in your tires, those could mean that something is wrong with the wheel bearings. If there are any bulges or bumps on your tires, it's time for an inspection from your mechanic.

Listen for unusual noises when driving over bumps and pot holes in the road. If you hear a loud clunking sound, that could be an indicator of a bad wheel bearing too!

Jounce and bounce your car.

If your car bounces up and down as you drive, it could be a sign that one or more of your wheel bearings is bad.

The front wheels on most passenger cars use a ball-and-cone design to allow the wheels to turn while keeping them firmly in place. The outer race of the bearing is pressed against the spindle and held in place by a locking collar and cotter pin. The inner race has a series of balls that rotate against the outer race when the wheel turns.

When you drive over bumps or potholes, the wheels bounce up and down slightly as they pass over them. If one or more of your wheel bearings has worn out, this bouncing motion can become exaggerated.

Check out the inside of the wheel.

If you have a car that's been driving fine, but it makes a loud noise when you turn the wheel, it may be time to check your wheel bearings.

Check out the inside of the wheel. The hub should be smooth and round (not warped). If you see any ridges, grooves or pits on the surface inside the hub, the bearing may be failing and needs to be replaced.

The outer race is attached to the wheel hub. It should be smooth and round as well. Again, if there are ridges or grooves in this area as well, it's probably time for new bearings.

If you're unsure if your wheel bearing is bad, look out for any unusual tire wear, such as abnormal grooves inside the tread or scallops on the sides of the tires , excessive wheel shimmy or vibration, vibration under braking , a front end that gives when making tight turns and has excessive up-and-down movement while driving at speed. If you detect any of these issues, it may be time to call a tow truck.