Symptoms of a bad wheel hub bearing and the risk of damage
Wheel bearings are an essential component that functions to make the wheels rotate smoothly and safely following the speed carried out by the driver. The task of the wheel bearing is very critical.
In addition to smoothing wheel rotation, it is also vital to withstand the vehicle's load directly. The wheel bearing must be strong enough against the impact received by the wheels when passing through potholes and uneven roads.
Therefore, we must always carry out routine checks on the condition of these wheel bearings to prevent hazards due to damaged car wheel bearings. Before severe damage to the wheel bearing occurs, there will be features and signs that we can recognize due to worn out wheel bearings.
This article will explain the symptoms of bad wheel hub bearing, along with the risks of damaged car wheel bearings that might happen if they aren't immediately repaired.
I. Bad wheel bearing symptoms
Worn out wheel bearing has several symptoms and signs that are pretty clear and can be felt from the driver's seat. So, what are the bad wheel bearing symptoms? Here are the factors that often appear when a car's wheel bearing starts to wear out and damage.
1. A rumbling sound appears on the wheels
The first signs of bad wheel bearing that will appear and can hear from the driver's cabin when the wheel bearing starts to wear out are the appearance of a rumbling sound on the wheel. The roar hears getting faster as the car speeds up.
2. Wheels wobbly and feels unsteady
The next signs of bad wheel bearing are that the wheel becomes wobbly and feels unsteady. We will see when a jack lifts the wheels. The tires are unbalanced up and down, left and right. So, when the tires move in all directions, it signs of a bad wheel bearing.
3. Uneven wear on the tire surface
The next sign of bad wheel bearing is uneven wear on the tire tread surface. Oblique bearings will affect steering angles so that they also affect the area of the tire tread on the road. As a result, the wear on the tire surface becomes uneven.
4. The wheels get hot during driving
The last thing that can be the signs of bad wheel bearing is when the car wheels feel hotter than usual, especially in the middle of the wheels.
Although it cannot ascertain before you check the brakes' condition (jammed or not), these hotter temperatures can occur due to the friction of the wheel bearings.
II. The risk of damaged wheel bearings
What are the risks of worn-out wheel bearing if you are late to replace the bearing? The following are the effects of the risks that may occur when the wheel bearings are damaged.
1. Steering is unstable when driving
A bad wheel bearing can be dangerous if not replaced immediately. One of the risks from damaged car wheel bearings is that the steering wheel becomes less stable when driving, especially when going through bumpy roads or about to manoeuvre. Steering instability can cause the car to roll and become difficult to control, resulting in accidents.
2. Tires may explode due to overheats
The next risk of damaged car wheel bearings is that the tires may explode due to overheats. The worn-out wheel bearings are often jammed. If it is forced continuously, heat will rise, damaging the surrounding components near the wheel bearing. Such as wheels, brake discs, brake callipers, brake pads, and also spreads the heat to the tires and makes the tires blow out.
3. Brake failure
Damaged wheel bearings can also cause brake problems and even fail. The heat generated by jammed wheel bearings can affect the brake fluid inside the brake callipers.
The brake fluid may be boiled up and evaporated. It will make bubbles inside the brake line system (called a vapour lock). As a result, your car brakes become clumsy and even fail to reduce vehicle speed.
Read also:4. The wheels can detach from the car
Damaged wheel bearings can also cause the wheels to separate from the vehicle. Although it rarely stands to reason because the wheel is directly connected to the wheel hub where there is a wheel bearing. A damaged wheel bearing can dislodge on its own. It can happen because of the hub bearing attached to the wheel.
5. Damage that spreads to the suspension
The last thing that would be a risk of a damaged wheel bearing is the damage can spread to other car components. Mainly to the suspension system such as ball joints, bushings or shock breakers.
As a result, the repair costs you have to spend due to a delayed replacement of damaged wheel bearings will be higher. Therefore, it is good to have your car's suspension system checked immediately when signs of damaged wheel bearings appear due to safety while driving. And also to prevent increased repair costs.