Table of content
13 May 2023 Wheel Bearings: why they make noise and how much it costs to replace them
As a rule, most drivers are unaware of the wheel bearings' job. Yet car wheel bearings are real workhorses. They are part of the chassis of a car and serve to guide the car drive shafts and axles. Although the wheel bearings of a car are subjected to great forces during driving, they can withstand a mileage of 180,000 kilometres. This is remarkable, because over this distance a bearing rotates about 100 million times! However, the constant rotation and strain of driving leads to wear and tear, so it can happen that you have to deal with the replacement of one or more wheel bearings every now and then.
How can I tell my wheel bearings are bad?
Recent damage to the wheel bearing shows hardly any symptoms and is barely noticeable at first. The lubrication makes up for small irregularities. The damage is also not visible from the outside because the wheel bearing is covered by the wheel itself. The sign of increased fuel consumption is also not always noticeable. However, damage to the wheel bearing becomes noticeable after some time through noises that can increase or decrease depending on the driving situation. In the early stages, it’s not always easy to notice damage to the bearings, as the noise is hardly perceptible here. In many cases, however, the noise will increase after a short time – often after only a few hundred kilometres. A small trick can help you find out on which side the bearing is defective. If the traffic permits, shift into neutral before cornering to lower the engine noise. If the humming noise of the wheel bearings increases during a right-hand turn, this is a sign of a defective left-hand bearing, as the left-hand wheel bearing is under greater pressure during a right-hand turn.
-7%
FEBI BILSTEIN Wheel bearing kit
Front Axle Left, Front Axle Right, with fastening/mounting material, Wheel Bearing integrated into wheel hub, with integrated magnetic sensor ring, with ABS sensor ring, 143 mm, Angular Ball Bearing
Article number: 23371
compared to
RRP
£ 92,99
£ 86,32
price incl. 20% VAT, excl. delivery costs
Article number: VKBA 6546 F
£ 161,42
price incl. 20% VAT, free delivery
FEBI BILSTEIN Wheel bearing kit
Wheel Bearing integrated into wheel hub, with integrated magnetic sensor ring, with ABS sensor ring, 85, 65 mm, Rolling Bearing
Article number: 26377
£ 65,49
price incl. 20% VAT, excl. delivery costs
Article number: VKBA 5412
£ 181,69
price incl. 20% VAT, free delivery
-22%
Article number: 12934
compared to
RRP
£ 10,99
£ 8,50
price incl. 20% VAT, excl. delivery costs
If the noise lessens, it is probably the right side that is defective, as the right wheel bearing is subjected to less load when turning to the right. In a left-hand turn, the noise is the opposite. Another possible symptom of wheel bearing damage is increased fuel consumption due to the increased drag of a faulty bearing. Before this happens, however, you will probably start hearing a clear noise when you are driving. Another way to tell is unsteady driving. This is particularly noticeable in the steering wheel. You may also get an error code, even though bearings are not really thought of as part of ABS components.
How much does it cost to replace the bearings?
The material costs for a wheel bearing are between 30 and 100 euros, for a complete set including wheel hub 70 to 200 euros are due. If you are driving a Ford Focus, take a look, you may find exactly what you need here: Ford Focus wheel bearings. The total costs of a wheel bearing replacement thus add up to at least 120 euros per bearing. The extent of the damage is also decisive for the costs. If the owner has taken too much time with the replacement of the defective bearing, the wheel bearing can seize up and also damage the wheel hub. The seized bearing must then be loosened at great expense. This not only takes more time, but also requires additional materials for example, a new car wheel hub.
Normally, a wheel bearing can be changed in about 45 to 60 minutes, depending on the model. If the bearing is stuck, the time required can double. Therefore, the earlier the damage is discovered in the workshop, the cheaper the repair will be. Another cost factor is the quality of the bearings used. Here, however, you usually don't save money with the cheapest bearings. Cheap wheel bearings of inferior quality will only result in the car soon being in the workshop with another bearing failure. So when you are looking for a front and rear wheel bearing for car it’s a good idea to do your homework and to find the best ones for your needs.
SKF Wheel bearing kit
with integrated ABS sensor
Article number: VKBA 3643
£ 54,28
price incl. 20% VAT, excl. delivery costs
-17%
A.B.S. Wheel bearing kit
with integrated magnetic sensor ring, 72 mm
Article number: 200032
compared to
RRP
£ 36,91
£ 30,49
price incl. 20% VAT, excl. delivery costs
SKF Wheel bearing kit
with flange, with integrated ABS sensor
Article number: VKBA 6649 F
£ 132,57
price incl. 20% VAT, free delivery
SKF Wheel bearing kit
with integrated ABS sensor
Article number: VKBA 3644
£ 56,09
price incl. 20% VAT, excl. delivery costs
-23%
Article number: 08080
compared to
RRP
£ 21,99
£ 16,88
price incl. 20% VAT, excl. delivery costs
Can you drive with a bad bearing?
If a wheel bearing is defective, this does not always mean that you can no longer drive the car. Even if the bearing has been defective for a long time, the car can still be drivable. As time goes by, the signs get bigger and bigger when the wheel bearing is broken. The noise level becomes louder and louder and increasingly distracting when driving. Especially when driving fast in curves, the broken wheel bearing becomes loudly noticeable. If the car continues to be driven, damage to the wheel hub may occur, which will result in additional repair costs. At the latest now it is necessary to visit a workshop.
A useful video on this topic:
Faulty wheel hub bearings: causes, signs, and troubleshooting solutions
Top products related to this topic:
