How To Tell If Your Vehicle's Wheel Bearings Are In Need Of Repair
Your vehicle's wheel bearings have a very important purpose, which is to ensure that the wheels can spin freely while in motion and support the vehicle's weight. If the wheel bearings are worn out, the wheels can actually come off the vehicle while driving and cause a lot of damage to your vehicle. That's why it's important to know the signs that your wheel bearings are in need of repair or replacement.
Odd Noises When Driving
The first thing you should watch out for is odd noises coming from the wheels while you are driving. These sounds will resemble growling or rumbling, and will typically increase in loudness as you are driving faster on the road. If you only have a single wheel bearing that is in need of repair or replacement, you'll hear that noise come from the direction of the problematic wheel.
Louder Noises When Turning
If you're having trouble identifying the problematic wheel bearing, there is a trick that can help you determine which side it is on. Try driving and turning to the left and right, and then identify if the noise gets louder. If you turn to the left and hear the noise more than before it means that the right wheel bearing is causing problems. The opposite is also true with turning to the right and having problems with the left wheel bearings.
The reason that turning the vehicle to one side will cause more noise on the opposite side is due to how the weight shifts on the vehicle. A left turn is simply going to put more pressure on the white wheel bearing, which can cause it to make more noise.
Loose Steering Wheel
Another symptom to look out for is a loose steering wheel. This is caused by a defective wheel bearing that causes the wheel to be less responsive than it normally is. This results in the steering wheel feeling loose, as you need to turn it more to get the wheel to turn in the direction you want it to go. You'll also notice that this problem gets worse on uneven road conditions, such as an unpaved road or when driving over bumps.
Vibrating Steering Wheel
That damaged wheel bearing is also going to cause the steering wheel to vibrate. The wheels connect to the tie rods and steering rack, so damaged wheel bearings cause all of those parts to vibrate. This vibration makes its way up the steering wheel where you can actually feel it when driving.
Reach out to auto repair services to learn more.
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