How often should you change your wheel bearings? Most serviceable wheel bearings need maintenance every 25,000 to 30,000 miles, or during every brake service. But, the average life of a sealed wheel bearing and hub assembly is about 85,000 to 100,000 miles, without the opportunity for a technician to repack the bearings.

How long do wheel bearings usually last? How long does a wheel bearing last? Wheel bearings have an average lifespan of 136,000 to 160,000 km (approximately 85,000 to 100,000 miles).

Do wheel bearings ever need replacing? A: Eventually, all wheel bearings wear out and will need to be replaced. Assuming normal service under typical driving conditions, the newer, “hub-assembly” style bearings found on most modern vehicles should last around 100,000 miles when maintained properly.

How long will a wheel bearing last after it starts making noise? However, a wheel bearing can last an average of anywhere from 136,000 to 160,000 km which is about 85,000 to 100,000 miles.

How often should you change your wheel bearings? – Related Questions

How expensive is it to replace a wheel bearing?

On average, a wheel bearing alone will cost you between $60 – $150, and an entire bearing and hub assembly replacement is around $200 – $400 for each wheel depending on your vehicle type.

What does it sound like when a wheel bearing is going out?

Squealing & Growling

The classic sounds of a bad wheel bearing are cyclic chirping, squealing and/or growling noise. You can also tell that the sound is related to wheel bearings if it changes in proportion to vehicle speed. The sound can get worse with every turn, or it can disappear momentarily.

How hard is it to replace wheel bearings?

Is it easy to replace a wheel bearing at home? Replacing a wheel bearing that comes as an assembly with the hub and bolts to the spindle or steering knuckle is not very difficult if you have proper skills, tools and the manual. Of course, the large axle nut is very tight and can be difficult to remove.

How do you tell which wheel bearing is bad front or back?

You can test this by gently swaying your car while driving slowly. If the noise lessens when you sway right, then the damaged bearing is likely on a left wheel bearing. If it lessens when you sway left, a right wheel bearing is likely broken.

Can I replace a wheel bearing myself?

Changing your own wheel bearings is considered an intermediate job that can be done at home, but will need some speciality mechanic tools. Be sure to obtain your vehicle’s service manual and identify the type of wheel bearing your vehicle is equipped with before you begin the repair.

How long can you drive with a noisy wheel bearing?

Can a vehicle keep going even after hearing noises from the wheel bearing? You can go about 1000-1500 miles before it will give up on you and fail, which means it is a danger to yourself and others until then. You should get to a mechanic as soon as possible.

Can you drive a car with a noisy wheel bearing?

If a wheel bearing starts to get worn, it will start to make a noise. It is not a good idea to drive with a worn wheel bearing because it is an essential part of holding the wheel onto your vehicle. A rumbling or humming sound is another sign of a worn wheel bearing.

Can I drive on a noisy wheel bearing?

It is safe to drive with a bad wheel bearing only if you just started to hear a humming, whining, grinding, or growling sound coming from the front or rear wheels. This indicates that the wheel bearing has begun failing and you would need to replace it as soon as possible.

How much is it to replace front wheel bearings?

The cost to replace both front wheel bearings is going to be between $260 and $480. The parts alone for the front wheel bearings are about $120 to $200. However, the labor costs will be a bit more extensive at around $140 to $280.

How do I know if my ball joints or wheel bearings are bad?

If the tire rocks by any noticeable degree, and especially if the movement is accompanied by a clinking or clunking sound, you likely have a bad ball joint or two. This test can also indicate a bad wheel bearing, but that will also grumble and vibrate as you drive in a straight line.

What does a bad axle sound like?

A Loud Clanking, Clunking, or Clicking

When constant velocity axles fail, you may also hear an unusual clicking sound may when turning the vehicle as joints become loose. These clicks are on the side of the faulty axle shaft and typically become noisier during sharp or fast turns.

Do I need to replace the hub assembly or just the bearing?

Hub bearings are pre-packed at the manufacturer’s factory and are sold and installed as a complete unit. These cannot be taken apart for re-lubrication, but must be replaced.

What happens if a wheel bearing fails?

If a wheel bearing goes bad, more friction will be placed on the wheel, and the wheel will start to wobble. There are a few signs to watch out for when your wheel bearing starts to go bad or is missing. A bad wheel bearing can lead to uneven tire wear, which means you will have to purchase tires sooner.

How tight should wheel bearings be?

The nut on the spindle should be tightened until snug, with no side-to-side play in the hub and then backed off, about a quarter of a turn. The nut finger should be tight until the castle nut or cotter pin is used.

What causes front wheel noise?

When looking at why the noises in the front wheel are occurring in your vehicle, you need to know the most common causes of this problem. The most common causes are unbalanced tires, a bad front wheel bearing, or failing brake pads that can cause your vehicle’s noises.

Do all wheel bearings go bad at the same time?

Both wheel bearings have racked up the same number of miles, so it’s logical to conclude that both sides have probably experienced the same amount of wear. Based on this line of thinking, it would make sense to recommend replacing both wheel bearing hubs at the same time even though only one has obviously failed.

Can a bad wheel bearing affect acceleration?

Unlike a tire balance problem that typically shows up at higher speeds, a vibration in the steering wheel due to a bad bearing will be noticed at slower speeds and progressively get worse as the vehicle accelerates.

What tools do I need to change a wheel bearing?

What tools do I need to replace a wheel bearing? Needle-nose pliers, a ratchet wrench with various sized sockets, flat-head screwdriver, jack and a star wrench for loosening nuts on the wheel.

Is there a difference between a right and left wheel bearing?

The left and right wheel bearings are the same part numbers. There is a difference in hubs for 2 wheel drive and 4 wheel drive vehicles.

Can your tire fall off from a bad wheel bearing?

No, bad wheel bearings will not cause the wheel to fall off. The wheel bearings are not responsible for retaining the wheel on the axle.

Can you break an axle by hitting a curb?

Things that can break your vehicle’s axle include poor maintenance; an auto accident; hitting curbs, potholes, or bumps too hard; and overloading your vehicle beyond its weight-bearing capacity. The axle is responsible for transferring the engine’s power and transmission’s torque to the wheels.