How Much Does It Cost To Replace Wheel Bearings?

Wheel bearings are a set of rigid steel ball bearings that form an essential part of a vehicle's steering, suspension, and braking systems. They are located inside a sealed metal casing in the vehicle's axles and roll around for the smooth spinning of the wheels.

Usually, wheel bearings are designed to last as long as the vehicle and don't require scheduled replacements or lubrication. They, however, wear out over time and will have to be replaced. These could result from water, sand, mud, or road salt that gets through the bearing seals and contaminates the grease, increasing friction and eventually causing the bearing to wear out. Also, driving over potholes, speed humps, and curbs with speed can cause premature damage to the wheel bearings. This article points out the tell-tale signs of worn-out wheel bearings and discusses replacement costs.

Signs Of A Worn-Out Wheel Bearing

Humming Noise

It is the most common and easy-to-identify symptom of a worn-out wheel bearing. The problem, however, is that such noises can result from multiple issues. Hence the best way is to identify where the noise emanates. If it's from one of the wheels, then the bearing on that wheel could be the issue.

Squealing or Grinding Noise

Pay attention to squealing or grinding noise as the vehicle moves. As the speed increases, the noise also increases, and it means the bearing needs a mechanic’s touch.

Clicking Sound

A worn-out bearing can also cause clicking sounds during movement and intensify as the vehicle accelerates.

Wobbling Wheels

The wheels of the vehicle wobble when in motion. To ascertain the possibility of a damaged wheel bearing, technicians put the vehicle on a lift and shake the wheels. You can also do this by jacking up the vehicle near the wheel with the issue and checking whether that wheel wobbles. Generally, a well-fit wheel assembly should not show any sign of shaking. Hence the wheel bearing needs attention if it shakes during the check.

ABS Failure 

The wheels' wobbling distorts the wheel speed sensor's proper operation, which leads to the anti-lock braking system (ABS) failure. The ABS warning light will illuminate as a result.

Vehicle Moves Sideways During Braking

The vehicle moves to one side towards the location of the worn-out bearing anytime the brake is applied. The movement could also result from a problem with the brake rotors. Hence it is vital to have a technician attend to the vehicle.

Vibrations In the Steering Wheel

Worn-out bearings cause vibrations in the steering wheel and make the vehicle turn left or right. The problem intensifies as speed increases. However, other issues can also lead to the same problem, such as unbalanced wheels, flat spots, or damaged suspension parts.

Reduced Steering Feedback

The steering wheel becomes less responsive or precise, making it difficult to control the vehicle. However, this could also result from improper wheel alignment.

Uneven Tire Wear

The tire on the wheel with worn-out bearings usually wears out faster than other tires. But other factors can also lead to the same problem. These include underinflated or overinflated tires, improper alignment, or damaged suspension components.

How Much Does It Cost To Replace Wheel Bearings?

The cost of replacing wheel bearings varies as several variables, including the vehicle's make, model, type of bearing, cost of parts, and labor, come into play. The average cost of replacing a single wheel bearing is about $350, which means replacing all four wheel bearings will amount to $1,400. Nonetheless, replacing wheel bearings in pairs is not necessary, as in the case of tires. 

How To Inspect Wheel Bearings

You can inspect wheel bearings during regular maintenance or when you suspect there’s an issue. Follow these steps to perform a full check of wheel bearings. 

• Set the vehicle's gear to park and raise it with a jack and support it with jack stands.
• Inspect one wheel at a time by grabbing it at the top and bottom with both hands. 
• Shake the wheel back and forth as if you want to remove it. It should be impossible to move the tire or make it wobble. If it does wobble, there is a fault with that wheel bearing or ball joint.
• Check the lower and upper ball joints to ascertain whether the movement results from a worn-out bearing. If they are firmly in position, the wheel bearing could be the problem.
• In addition, if your vehicle is an all-wheel or front-wheel drive one, and a front-wheel bearing is supposedly worn-out, set the vehicle's gear to neutral and spin the wheel by hand and listen carefully. There should be a soft rubbing sound. This sound is typical due to the brake pads gliding over the rotor. Any grinding or humming sound indicates a worn-out or damaged wheel bearing.

Summary

Continuing to drive a vehicle with a worn-out wheel bearing can lead to more expensive damages to the vehicle. These include permanent damage to the constant velocity (CV Joint) or automatic transmission. Also, the tires can come off anytime, increasing accident risk. For that reason, it is vital to have a failing wheel bearing replaced once it starts showing symptoms. 

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