How far can you drive with a bad wheel bearing? (2024)

How far can you drive with a bad wheel bearing?

Typically, you shouldn't exceed 1,000 miles on a bad wheel bearing. Driving for distances longer than 1,000 miles could lead to serious complications with your vehicle. Continuing to put stress on this wheel bearing will also hurt the hub, CV joint, and even the transmission.

Can I drive with a bad wheel bearing? No, it can be very dangerous. The bearings can cause a severe problem if they malfunction. As we said before, extreme heat can be caused by friction, and this can cause a sudden seize of the bearing, causing the wheel to get blocked at whatever speed we are driving at that moment.

Most wheel bearings last about 85,000 to 100,000 miles before they need to be replaced. Some vehicles have wheel bearings that last a lot longer, and some vehicles need them replaced fairly quickly. It all depends on the quality of your wheel bearings and your usual driving conditions.

Can you drive with a bad wheel bearing? You can still drive with a bad wheel bearing, but we wouldn't recommend it for long distances. Keep your mileage to a minimum and look out for worsening symptoms of a wheel bearing fault; we cover the symptoms to check for later in this guide.

Wheel bearing failure is a potentially dangerous situation at any time, so have your vehicle towed to the nearest mechanic and have your faulty wheel bearings replaced right away. Vehicle safety should always come first.

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.

Your wheel bearings have a heavy impact on the handling of your vehicle. It would be extremely dangerous to drive with old wheel bearings, as it may cause your wheels to stop turning entirely and abruptly. You should expect to replace wheel bearings every 85,000-100,000 miles.

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 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.

Over time, wheel bearings can wear out due to constant use, exposure to road conditions, and lack of maintenance. Common signs of a failing wheel bearing include unusual noises such as grinding or humming coming from the wheel, vibration, uneven tyre wear, and excessive play or looseness in the wheel.

Can a bad wheel bearing cause transmission problems?

It can, in fact, be very dangerous to drive if one of your bearings is worn out, especially since it may cause the wheel to stop while driving. Additionally, a damaged wheel bearing puts a lot of stress on the hub, the CV joint, and the transmission itself.

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.

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.

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.

Damaged wheel bearings can also wear grooves in the axle shaft, eventually leading to catastrophic failure. You should have your wheel bearings replaced at the first signs of excessive wear and tear. Otherwise, the wheel may completely seize up and cause you to lose control of your vehicle.

The time taken to replace a wheel bearing is also slightly different depending on whether the bearing is on the front or rear wheel. A front wheel bearing replacement on average takes around 90 minutes, whereas a rear wheel bearing replacement takes on average just under 1 hour.

These bearings are unbolted from the steering knuckle, and a new bearing bolted on. Expect to pay for 1-2 hours of labor to replace per side, usually between $80-200.00.

Do you need an alignment after replacing rear wheel bearings? Generally speaking, no. However, if the vehicle has independent rear suspension, and replacing the bearing required disassembling adjustable suspension components (control arms), having the alignment checked might be warranted.

However you fix them, it's essential to get your bearings repaired if they are noisy or worn. If you just turn up the radio and ignore the rumbling they will damage and wear other, more expensive components, burn more fuel, and could even be a safety issue.

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.

Does wheel bearing noise go away at higher speeds?

The classic symptom of a bad wheel bearing is typically a cyclical chirping, squealing or growling noise that changes proportional to vehicle speed. The sound may disappear at some speeds, or occur only at certain speeds. The noise may get worse when turning, or it may disappear momentarily.

The majority of bearing failures occur because of improper lubrication. Lubrication failure can occur if the wrong lubricant is used, if not enough lubricant is applied, or if the bearing has been exposed to excessive temperatures that have caused the lubricant to degrade. Corrosion & Contamination.

The most common failure pattern for wheel bearings is for those on the passenger side of the vehicle to fail first. The passenger side bearings are exposed to the most standing water in the gutter.

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.