What is a wheel hub bearing? Why do I care? A wheel hub bearing is the ONLY part connecting the body of the car to the wheels. It is apparent in the definition what makes the wheel hub a part of great importance. IT IS THE ONLY THING CONNECTING YOUR CAR TO THE WHEELS! Suprisingly, it is often overlooked because the symptoms of a worn wheel bearing are similar to those of worn brakes, rotors, pads, etc. The result is an over diagnosis of brake / strut issues and the under diagnosis of the wheel hub bearing.
The average American spends over a quarter million dollars on his/her car(s) in a lifetime. A major chunk of this amount goes to car repair and maintenance costs. The current generation’s mentality towards car repair and maintenance is “will take care of it as it happens.” The passive mentality results in very little mechanical knowledge about the important parts which run the car. The wheel hub bearing is one of the most overlooked car parts, especially for the average car user.
The current trend in car parts is moving towards a complete wheel hub assembly design. The traditional wheel hub is a simple bearing where the body of the car attaches to the wheel of the car. The newer design which gained popularity in the current decade is a complete assembly of the wheel hub. It includes the wheel hub itself, the bearing, the lugs, and the ABS braking sensor. This is an all-in-one unit which is more efficient in performace and a breeze to replace without the need of a mechanic.
It is equally important to understand the symptoms of a worn wheel hub assembly. First and foremost is the noise coming directly from the wheel hub. If a single bearing is off, the whole wheel hub assembly needs to be replaced. And when a single bearing is off, you can hear the whining noise. If the noise is not caught, there will also be a slipping or catching in the wheel. This is a classic sign of a damaged wheel hub. Some of the newer cars have sensors to monitor the slipping and noise and will send an error code to the computer. A general rule of thumb, if your car has around 90,000 miles, it is time to check the wheel hub bearing.
As a consumer, it is imperative to know the above information for a few reasons. One, you can diagnose your own wheel hub issue without spending time and money with the mechanic. Unless you have a trusted mechanic, self diagnosis closes the door on additional, unnecessary, and fictitious repairs vouched for by the mechanic. This also gives you the ability to negotiate labor hours knowing how easy the job is. Moreover, you can evev do the job yourself now that you know how easy it is.
