Hubs and Bearings

Hubs and Bearings

A wheel hub bearing unit is an important part of a car’s wheel assembly, enabling wheels to turn freely and playing a crucial role in the safety and handling characteristics of a vehicle. Comprised of precision- manufactured bearings, seals and sensors in one pre-assembled unit, a wheel hub bearing unit is critical to performance, from the smoothness of the ride, to fuel efficiency, to the integrity of anti-lock braking systems (ABS).

Maintenance

While at cruising speeds a definite growling noise along with vibration will be felt in the steering in the case of the front and in the vehicle seat or floor in case of the rear. That is what usually alerts the driver to a wheel bearing issue. When steering and changing lanes on the roadway, sometimes a change in growling pitch and vibration might be noticed and will alert the driver to a bearing issue as well. In severe cases a low brake pedal will be due to a wheel bearing issue. What cause damage to a Wheel Bearing?

• Foreign Matter
• Improper Fitment
• Improper/Insufficient Lubrication
• Bearing Fatigue
• Bearing Corrosion
• High Temperatures
• Storage

Check for these symptoms:

• Notice of the fact that foreign particles such as dirt, abrasive grit, lint, dust, steel chips, etc. can cause bearings to wear
• Is there wheel play? This is a common symptom of a bad wheel bearing. As a bearing wears down, it becomes loose inside the wheel hub and spindle, and that will make your vehicle feel loose while driving.
• Your vehicle may feel like it is pulling to one or the other side.
• A vibration in the steering wheel can be caused by a worn-out wheel bearing. This vibration will usually be noticed at slow speeds and progressively get worse as the vehicle accelerates.
• A faulty wheel bearing can lead to uneven tyre wear.

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