Wheel bearings also play a crucial role in the wheel system of your automobile since they offer enough support to the wheel in order to rotate easily. These are very minute parts but with great strength so that the wheels can move without adding much friction thus providing a comfortable, safe and slick ride. However, with time, the provisions of wheel bearings can wear off because of numerous factors that comprise serious consequences as loss of performance, noise or even breakdown. Being aware of what can make your wheel bearing fail will enable you to do preventive actions that will keep your car running in a smooth and safe way.
Our company, Bearmax USA, is engaged in the business of offering superior-grade ball bearings that are engineered to last long and work. Your wheel bearings are supposed to be properly maintained in order to get the best out of them as well as make your vehicle last longer.
Learning about Wheel Bearings
Before delving into the causes of defects with wheel bearings, it is significant to have a clue of what wheel bearings are. The small metal balls (or rollers) which make up the wheel bearings are set within a metal race. These are features that enable the wheel hub to rotate with low friction thereby providing a smooth ride. Unless the bearing of the wheels are operational, your vehicle will feel heavy, well worn and even prone to destruction of other parts.
Common Causes of Wheel Bearing Failure
The weakening of wheel bearings can be caused by a number of factors. The following are the most prevalent types of causes of wheel bearing failures:
1. Lack of Lubrication
Lack of lubrication is among the core factors that cause the failure of wheel bearings. Grease or oil is used as wheel bearings to minimize friction between all metal parts. With time, the lubricant may deteriorate or leak giving the bearings the possibility of wear and tear. In the absence of appropriate lubrication, the metal balls in the bearing may grind on the race and lead to overheating and possible damage, which will result in ultimate failure.
2. Water and Contaminants Exposure
The water and dirty stuff, including road salt may collaborate and spill over to the wheel bearing assembly causing corrosion and damage. The lubricant can be washed out by water rendering the metal components to rust and degrade. Also, those contaminants may make the friction high which will result in the wearing off of the bearings at a faster rate. You should also make sure that your vehicle wheel bearings are sealed adequately to avoid the water and debris penetrating them.
3. Excessive Heat
Heat is yet another important condition that may cause the failure of wheel bearings. Prolonged and high rate driving, hard braking, or dysfunctional brake system may cause high temperatures. Too much heat may result in the breaking down of the bearing lubricant, which will hasten wear, and the bearing will break down. Wheel bearings life cycle directly depends on the vehicle cooling system, which should be observed so that it does not overheat.
4. Improper Installation or Alignment
Wheel bearings should be fitted properly and in an orientation that it aims to work. When bearing is installed improperly, then it may lead to uneven wear and untimely breakdown. The improper installation may also result in the bearing being subjected more stress that it is designed to take and thus resulting in a faster degradation. The replacement or installation of the wheel bearings must be performed by a professional who has the tools and knowledge required to do it.
5. Excessive Load or Weight
Too much weight or load on your car may create extra stress on your vehicle bearing. Your bearings might need to experience greater degrees of friction and pressure in case you daily overload your vehicle. This would lead to them working at a much accelerated rate than normal due to this constant pressure. Other components of a suspension may also fail as a result of overloading of your vehicle which will worsen the situation.
6. Driving Conditions and Road Quality
Your wheel bearings can also be influenced by the quality of the roads that you are driving on. The bearings may be further strained by potholes, uneven surfaces and rough terrains resulting in an earlier wear and tear. When you are traveling frequently in roads which are not well maintained you should ensure that you check the bearings of your wheels regularly to see whether there is a wear or damage.
Bad Wheels Bearings Symptoms
One should not forget about the symptoms of collapsing wheel bearings as it is imperative to remedy the issue at an early time. The following are some of the typical indicators that you could be having bad wheel bearings:
1. Vibration While Driving
Vibration during the car ride, especially at rapid speeds is considered one of the most obvious indicators of an inappropriate wheel bearing. Independent wheels One wheel will wobble, making the ride uncomfortable, as a result of a failing wheel bearing. This is mostly more apparent during turns or driving straight at a faster pace. Is a faulty rear wheel bearing a source of vibration? Absolutely! Rear wheel bearing may vibrate and the vibration may be experienced in the cabin of the vehicle, in case the bearing is damaged or worn, and the vibrations may aggravate with time.
2. Noises Coming from the Wheel Area
When you start hearing strange sounds generated by your wheels, then that might be the indication of bad wheel bearing. One of the most frequent ones is a low humming/ grinding noise which becomes more intense as the vehicle gains velocity. The noise may also be that of a knocking or popping sound in certain instances. Will a bad bearing of a wheel produce a knocking sound? Yes, a bad bearing can make a knock or pop sound, namely, when the bearing is greatly damaged. This noise can be even stronger during turning around or driving over bumps.
3. Burning Smell
On other occasions, bad wheel bearing can result in the burning smell that is generated as a result of the friction between metal parts. This heat accumulation has the potential to cause other parts that are close to it to warm up, like brake pads or the bearing itself, which releases a burning scent. Will a bad wheel bear result in burning smell? Yes, an overheating bearing may produce a burning odor, and this is funnily enough something to be detected so that the additional heat of the assembly of wheels and other parts is avoided.
4. Uneven Tire Wear
The other indication that a wheel bearing is bad is that the tires used on it wear unevenly or too much. Unless the wheel bearing is operating well, there is a possibility of the wheel moving irregularly thus, resulting in unequal wear on the tire tread. When you feel your tires are wearing in an uneven form then it might be time to check the wheel bearings.
Preventing Wheel Bearing Failure
It is all about maintaining the vehicles in order to prevent the failure of the wheel bearing. The following are measures that you can follow to lengthen the life of your wheel bearings:
1. Consistent Checkup: Check your bearings on wheels every now and then, particularly when you have to drive a lot or in bad roads.
2. Proper Lubrication: Make sure your wheel bearings are well lubricated off and well closed in to keep out contaminants.
3. Do not Overload Your Vehicle: Be aware of your vehicles weight limit and do not overweight it, this may cause additional weight to the bearings of the wheels.
4. Drive Carefully: Do not drive aggressively, i.e. avoid hard braking or over speeding because it may produce a lot of heat and wears on a bearing.
And when the problem with the wheel bearings arises, you should see a professional. Bearmax USA have the best quality ball bearings which can make your vehicle run in a good and safe manner in the forthcoming years.
Essential for Smooth Vehicle Performance
Bearings have been fitted in most vehicles especially in wheel assemblies. There is a direct correlation between the way your ride is smooth, how your vehicle handles and its fuel consumption as related to the performance and dependability of bearings. It is important to invest in high quality bearings to ensure that your vehicle is in good health.
