Auto Tips

Signs of Damage and Checking Car Wheel Bearings

18 January, 2024

You can usually identify damage to a car’s wheel bearings by the roaring sounds you hear when the car is running. Apart from that, there are also other symptoms that could be signs of car wheel bearing damage.

Wheel bearings, also known as wheel bearings, play a very important role in car wheels. Car wheels function well if they have the right tire pressure and the car wheels are in prime condition.

The wheels can rotate safely and smoothly according to the vehicle’s speed if the bearings are not damaged. Some of the latest cars currently have features that can determine the condition of the pressure and the condition of the car’s tires.

You can find this advanced feature on the Wuling Almaz RS Pro car, which already has the Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) feature. This feature can monitor the latest information about car pressure, which will later be displayed on the Multi Information Display (MID) screen. On the MID screen, TPMS is usually symbolized by an image of a car, and then on the side of each tire there is tire pressure information.

To be clearer about the characteristics of damage and checking car wheel bearings, you can see the review below.

Function of Car Wheel Bearings

Car wheel bearings have several main functions that are very important for vehicle performance and safety. The following are some of the functions of car wheel bearings:

• Reduces Friction

Wheel bearings reduce friction between various moving components, such as the wheel axle and other wheel parts. This allows the wheels to spin smoothly without excess friction that can result in wear and damage.

• Supporting the Load

Wheel bearings support the vehicle’s weight and help distribute the load evenly between the wheel components. This ensures that the vehicle load is distributed efficiently, reducing excess pressure at any one point and preventing structural damage.

• Ensures Movement Precision

Wheel bearings help ensure precise wheel movement. This precision is important to maintain vehicle stability and control, especially when negotiating curves or uneven road conditions.

• Reduces Vibration and Noise

Well-functioning wheel bearings help reduce vibrations that can occur during vehicle travel. Apart from that, good bearings can also reduce the noise produced by wheel movement.

Car Wheel Bearing Size

In use, the size of car wheel bearings varies depending on the type and model of the vehicle. Car wheel bearings come in a variety of sizes and designs to match various vehicle needs. When purchasing replacement wheel bearings, it is important to ensure that you get the right size and type for your vehicle’s specifications.

Wheel bearing sizes are generally measured in two main dimensions: inside diameter (ID) and outside diameter (OD). For example, common wheel bearings have markings such as “ID x OD x T,” where ID is the inner diameter, OD is the outer diameter, and T is the bearing thickness.

As an example:

• 25 mm x 50 mm x 35 mm

This means that the wheel bearing has an inner diameter of around 25 mm, an outer diameter of around 50 mm, and a thickness of around 32 mm.

Signs of Damaged Car Front and Rear Wheel Bearings

If there is damage to the car’s wheel bearings, it will usually show symptoms which could be signs that the front and rear wheel bearings of the car are damaged.

• Strange Sounds while Driving

If strange sounds appear when driving at speeds above 40 km/h, it could be a sign that the car’s wheel bearings are damaged. You can do a test to find out.

• Car Feels Vibrating

A vibrating car can indicate a problem with the wheel bearings. Apart from disturbing user comfort, a car that vibrates due to bearing damage is also dangerous to control while driving.

• Tire Condition Not Optimal

If the condition of the car tires does not appear to be optimal, one of the causes could be that the bearings are damaged. However, it is necessary to check first to find out for sure the cause of the tire not being optimal.

• ABS Light is On

The ABS indicator light is an important sign if a car engine component is damaged. You can immediately carry out further checks to find out which component has the problem, and if the car’s bearings are proven to be damaged, carry out repairs immediately to avoid the risk of an accident or slipping.

How to Check for Damaged Car Wheel Bearings

You can check to find out if the car’s wheel bearings are damaged independently. Prepare some equipment before checking.

• Check Using a Jack

To find out the condition of your car’s wheel bearings, you can lift the car using a jack. Then, shake the car’s wheels to find out.

When your car’s wheels feel wobbly, there is a possibility that your car’s wheel bearings are damaged.

• Hot Rim Condition

When driving, you can check the condition of the rims by feeling the temperature. If the wheel rim is hotter than usual, this is caused by excessive friction because the bearing has been damaged.

After reading the review above regarding the characteristics of damage and checking the car’s wheel bearings, it will certainly increase your insight into knowing if there is damage.