Squealing wheel bearing can be easily identified. After noticing it, it’s better not to ignore it. Trafic.no experts say that not fixing this problem can become costly and dangerous. How to recognise that this incredible noise is caused by the wheel bearing and what to do then?
Find out if the wheel bearing is really squealing
Squealing can be the cause of many defects. The fact, that it is the wheel bearing squealing, can be clarified with some signs. First of all, notice whether the sound intensifies while making a turn. Usually, if the problem is in the bearing, the sound is the loudest while making a turn. If it squeals while turning to the left, that means the right bearing is worn out, and the other way around if the sound intensifies while turning to the right. If you want to find out which bearing has the problem, try to maneuver in a safe space so that you would avoid causing a traffic accident. Even though this check-up can be done either by a beginner driver, it is still better to double-check at a car service.
The cost is not the biggest problem
Squealing bearing produces unpleasant noise and increases fuel consumption by increasing wheel resistance due to wear. But this is far from the biggest problem. Ignoring a worn wheel bearing puts your travel safety at risk. If the bearing is heavily worn, the bearing may even break, causing the wheel to come loose. Broken bearings can also lead to the loss of the car's brakes. Another extremely dangerous situation is a stuck wheel. At high speeds, this can be a tragedy - the car can start slipping and, at worst, tip over.
What to do?
The simple answer is to change the defected part as soon as possible. Some drivers are convinced that if the wheel bearing squeals only when cornering and not on straight roads, it does not need to be replaced. However, trafic.lt experts warn that safety is not worth the risk. It is better not to joke with worn out bearings, especially if you are traveling fast and long distances. Also, riding with a worn bearing will damage the car and accelerate wear on other parts.
If you want your car's wheel bearings to be trouble-free and long-lasting, remember that one of the main causes of their failures is aggressive driving. If you like to "draw the sun" and make sharp turns, the wheel bearings have a heavy lateral load. As a result, they wear out faster and may even break down. Therefore, in order to protect the wheel bearings from premature wear, drive well, avoid aggressive actions and sharp rapid turns.
Bearing replacement
The way you know when to change your bearing depends a lot on your driving style.
Also, the quality of your car model and parts. Normal bearing life is about 100 thousand kilometres. Of course, cheap Chinese bearings will serve you much shorter.
Replacing a bearing in the salon is an inexpensive and relatively simple procedure costing up some tens of euros. Trafic.no experts advise against going to a worse service to save money. In cheap "garage" repair shops, bearings are simply hammered. This is not really good for the bearing itself. Therefore, choose a service where the bearings will be reliably installed on a press machine by well-trained and knowledgeable professionals.
The cost of new bearings ranges from ten to several hundred euros. It depends on the type of bearing, the manufacturer, the car. The newer and more luxurious the car, the more the new bearings will cost you. You can save by shopping online, looking for promotions and special offers.
