You may have heard of wheel bearings, but what do they do? Many people don’t think twice about this critical part of their vehicle. But if you want to keep rolling freely around the San Gabriel Valley, you should be aware of your vehicle’s wheel bearings, and be sure that they are in working order. Wheel bearings are the parts that enable your wheels to spin freely. Because they support the entire weight of your vehicle, they have to be durable. In most cases, wheel bearings will last well over 100,000 miles. However, like any component in your vehicle, they will eventually wear out and have to be replaced.
Keeping your wheel bearings in good working condition is extremely important. When bearings go bad, they generate huge amounts of heat, which can cause the wheel to lock up. In some cases, the wheel can even fall off. Either one of these could cause a serious accident.
What are some symptoms of a worn out wheel bearing? One common sign is a groaning sound from your wheels. The sound might disappear at some speeds and reappear at others. Our technicians can quickly determine if your wheel bearings are bad by raising your vehicle and wiggling the wheels. Your wheels should not have any play along the vertical axis. Many modern vehicles have wheel bearing assemblies that cannot be serviced separately. In this case, the entire assembly must be replaced.
For vehicles with separate wheel bearings, preventative maintenance may be possible. Worn wheel bearings can be removed, cleaned, and inspected, and if they are still in good enough condition to be reused, they can be reinstalled and packed with fresh grease. If not, then new bearings can be installed.
If you suspect a problem with your wheel bearings, come in to your Certified Auto Repair Specialist of Pasadena for inspection or repair today – don’t wait until your wheel locks up while you’re driving down the 210 in heavy traffic!