When your car starts making strange sounds or pulling to one side, you might think it's a tire issue—but it could be the wheel bearings.
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These small parts play a big role in keeping your vehicle running smoothly.
If you're interested in how cars work or are thinking about a future as an auto mechanic, learning what causes wheel bearings to go bad is part of the journey.
Continue reading to learn more! We’ll break down what wheel bearings are, why they matter and what causes them to go bad. If you're serious about cars, this is knowledge you'll want to have if you’re ready to start training for an auto technician career.1
So, what are wheel bearings?
Wheel bearings are small steel balls held together in a metal ring called a “race.” They sit inside the hub at the center of the wheel and help it spin smoothly. Without them, your wheels would rub and drag.
They take on a lot of pressure. Every bump, turn and stop sends force through the wheel bearings. When they're in good shape, you barely notice them.
But when they start to fail? You’ll feel—and/or hear—it.
Even though they’re small, wheel bearings are critical. They:
If they go bad, they can cause steering issues, uneven tire wear or even a wheel coming off while driving. That’s why spotting the signs early is key—especially for someone looking to work in the field.
So, what causes wheel bearings to go bad? Here are the most common culprits.
Driving on rough roads or hitting potholes can put extra stress on the bearings. Over time, the cumulative damage wears them down faster.
Tires with too little air can change how weight is distributed across your vehicle. The added pressure can strain the wheel bearings.
If one tire spins faster than the others, or if weight isn’t spread evenly, it makes the bearings work harder than they should.
Your suspension system helps absorb shock. When it’s off, vibrations travel straight to the wheel bearings, causing early wear.
If lug nuts are too tight or too loose, it can shift the wheel in ways it shouldn’t. That puts pressure on the bearing assembly.
Moisture, ice or extreme heat can cause the seals on bearings to break down. Once that happens, dirt and water can sneak in and cause damage.
The seals protect bearings from grime and rust. When they break, it’s only a matter of time before the part fails.
Bigger wheels may look cool, but they’re heavier. That extra weight adds more strain to the bearing system.
Want to know how to spot a bad bearing? Look for these signs:
A light shaking feeling in the steering wheel or floorboard, especially while driving at faster speeds.
Grinding, humming or growling noises when turning or speeding up.
The steering may feel loose or harder to control than usual.
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If your car keeps drifting to one side, a damaged bearing might be part of the problem.
Vibrations or wobbles that get worse the faster you go often point to a wheel bearing issue.
Does your wheel feel hot after driving? That could mean friction from a failing bearing.
Knowing what causes wheel bearings to go bad means knowing how terrain, pressure and component wear affect performance. These parts may be small, but the impact they have is major.
Your car's wheels use a bearing system to reduce friction. If you have a problem with these bearings, then you might hear unusual sounds when you drive. Your steering might be off, and your tyres might show signs of uneven wear.
While fixing or replacing the bearings solves the problem, you should try to work out why this happened in the first place. While some failures result from old parts that wear out, others have a specific cause.
If you know why your bearings have failed, then you can assess if you need to take steps to avoid future problems. Why do wheel bearings fail?
Your vehicle's wheels are meant to sit in specific positions. However, they don't always sit right. For example, if you regularly drive over rough terrain or potholed roads, then your wheels might bounce about too much. They might move out of their normal positions and become misaligned. This can also happen if you simply bump a kerb when you park. The bump might be enough to move the wheel.
If one or more of your wheels are misaligned, then their bearings might develop a problem. For example, a bearing might get contact stress marks or breaks that ultimately prevents it from doing its job.
Wheel bearings sometimes develop problems when you have an accident. Even a minor crash that doesn't seem to cause significant damage can affect these parts. A knock, shunt or bump around a wheel or door can damage a bearing or its system.
For example, the impact could break or bend a seal. Once this happens, the bearing might not be able to create enough friction for its vacuum to close. Contaminants, like dirt, water and air can get inside the system and damage other parts. Damaged seals might also leak lubricant out of the system causing it to overheat.
Wheel bearings can fail if they are exposed to too much water. For example, if you've recently driven through a flooded street or a floodway with high water levels, then this water could be the root of your problem.
Your wheel bearings have a lubricant coat that keeps the system running smoothly. However, this coat isn't fixed in place or waterproof. If a bearing is exposed to too much water, then some of its lubricants might wash away. Or, the lubricant might allow water through into the underlying system.
In either case, exposure to water reduces lubrication in the system and increases friction. The bearing might overheat or suffer from friction damage.
Every vehicle has weight load limits. If you've been using your car to carry heavy loads, then you might have overloaded it. Your bearings have to spread load weight across their wheels, and if you overload your car, then the bearings will struggle to do this.
Even if you stay close to capacity, external factors like potholes, sharp braking and tight cornering can put excess stress on the bearings and tip them over the edge, and your bearings will get hotter than they should. They also might lose lubricant if it also heats up. Excess heat and dwindling lubricant cause excess friction that damages the surface of the bearings.
Sometimes, excess weight can also damage bearing seals. The seals might break, change shape or move out of place. If a seal isn't intact or in position, then it allows contaminants to get into the system.
If you think you have a wheel bearing problem, then contact Stopmaster Brakes. Our expert mechanics can check your bearings out and fix or replace them. We can also help you understand where the problem came from and how to prevent it from happening again.
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