Can you drive with a bad wheel bearing?
Driving with a bad wheel bearing isn't exactly a safe routine. If left unaddressed, you might lose control of your vehicle, develop braking problems, and the wheels can also come off.
No. We don't recommend driving without a properly functioning wheel bearing. Not only is it extremely dangerous for you, but you can also end up injuring or killing other drivers on the road. If you ignore bad wheel bearings, your wheel could stop working while driving, or you could have issues steering your car.
If your wheel bearing fails, it can cause the wheel to stop while you are driving or possibly even to fall off. At the very least, before a wheel falls off, a failed wheel bearing can/will cause significant damage to your vehicle, so it's very important to keep an eye on these and keep them maintained.
If you drive the vehicle with a bad bearing it will just seize up on you. It may also damage the axle and the axle housing depending on the configuration. It's not worth it to take a chance on driving the vehicle. There is no shortcuts or short term fixes.
Also, ignoring worn-out wheel bearings can damage the vehicle's constant velocity joint (CV joint) or automatic transmission. The outer CV joint attaches the driveshaft to the wheels, and the inner CV joint connects to the transmission.
If a bearing gets really hot, cages and seals could be deformed and lead to bearing lock-up. This may feel like the parking brake has been applied and you may notice resistance when you accelerate. You'll want to have this checked out immediately.
The first sign of bearing failure is excessive vibration. Following this, the bearing will begin to heat up past acceptable levels and produce excessive noises, either high-pitched or grinding.
What does it cost to replace wheel bearings? The cost to replace one front-wheel hub assembly varies widely. Some variables include the make and model, the garage's labor rate and the cost for parts. The national average is about $350 to fix the wheel bearings at one wheel.
This makes it difficult to apply a catch-all time estimate, but you can tend to expect about 30 minutes to an hour and a half for front bearings and 15 to 45 minutes for rear wheel bearings.
The noise may get worse when turning, or it may disappear momentarily. So, it's challenging to make a diagnosis based on noise alone. Components like tires, CB joints and brakes can mimic wheel bearing noise.
How do I stop my wheel bearings from making noise when I drive?
How can you stop a wheel bearing making noise? Unfortunately you can't: the only solution to a worn, noisy wheel bearing is to have it replaced by a garage; bearings are not repairable.
The average wheel bearing will have a lifespan of 136,000 to 160,000 km (85,000 to 100,000 miles). Certain factors such as the quality of the wheel bearings, installation, and car modifications can affect its actual lifespan.
Since wheel bearings are what your tires spin on, they can reduce your acceleration as they fail. Due to poor lubrication or rust, wheel bearings can start to perform worse, and they won't let your vehicle acceleration freely.
Wheel bearings wear down unevenly, and their condition will extend to your tires. While mileage and wear and tear can often make all four tires equally long in the tooth, uneven tire wear can be a tell-tale sign at least one of your wheel bearings needs replacing.
Once you notice any sign indicating a bad wheel bearing, avoid exceeding 500 miles with that issue. A failing wheel bearing will increase your difficulty in driving. But with a high-quality wheel bearing, you can drive for another 1000 miles as per the estimate.
On many modern cars, a bad wheel bearing will trigger a warning light. The ABS or traction control warnings will often illuminate, since a bad bearing will trip the system to deactivate.
You should replace your hub assembly and wheel bearings. Here's how to replace wheel bearings. Even if only one side is bad, it makes sense to replace them in pairs. The “good” side is likely to cause problems in a relatively short time.
- Shaky Steering Wheel When Driving. When you drive, you may notice that your steering wheel and, in more extreme cases, the entire car feels as if it is shaking.
- Reduced Acceleration When Driving. ...
- Grinding Sounds. ...
- Unevenly Worn Tires. ...
- Vibrating Steering Wheel.
If Only One Bearing Is Bad, Do I Have To Replace Them Both? No. Your car's wheel bearings are entirely separate, and a failure in one bearing does not affect the others. You only need to replace the bearing that has failed.
This configuration is most common on older cars and 2WD trucks and vans. They are the easiest to remove and replace. The bearing comes out of the hub assembly and a new one goes in its place. This repair is not labor intensive under normal circ*mstances and the parts are fairly inexpensive.
What the worst can happen driving on a bad wheel bearing?
If left unaddressed, you might lose control of your vehicle, develop braking problems, and the wheels can also come off. Unusual noises, uneven tire wear, steering wheel vibrations, abnormal side pull, and an illuminated ABS warning light are telltale signs of a bad wheel bearing.
Bad wheel bearings can exhibit a number of symptoms, but the most common is usually a noise coming from the tire area. This noise is generally caused by the inner portion of the bearing breaking down and disintegrating. Even if there is no play in the tire, it's still possible that the wheel bearing has failed.
Signs your wheel bearings may need replacement
The most commonly reported indicator of bearing malfunction is odd or irregular noise when driving. Often described as a humming, clicking, grinding or growling noise, wheel bearing problems are generally worsened by acceleration or in turning maneuvers.
Impact damage or poor road quality – all impacts from driving through a pothole, driving over speed bumps or hitting the curbstone can damage a wheel bearing and reduce its lifespan. Poor quality wheel bearing – a wheel bearing is continuously under enormous pressure.
The national average is about $350 to fix the wheel bearings at one wheel. As you might imagine, however, luxury brands cost more. Please note: If the wheel bearings need replacing at one wheel, you don't necessary need to replace the bearings at the other wheel on the same axle. It's not like matching a pair of tires.
