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Cars & Other Vehicles
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Car Maintenance and Repair
Tires and Suspension
How to Know if Your Wheel Bearings Are Going Bad Download Article Co-authored by Jason Shackelford
Last Updated: May 7, 2025 Fact Checked
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Listening to Your Wheels
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Recognizing Other Symptoms
|
Evaluating Bearing Damage
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Video
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Q&A
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Tips
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Things You'll Need
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This article was co-authored by Jason Shackelford. Jason Shackelford is the Owner of Stingray Auto Repair, a family owned and operated auto repair shop with locations in Seattle and Redmond, Washington. He has over 24 years of experience in auto repair and services, and every single technician on Jason’s team has more than 10 years of experience. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 181,037 times.
Wheel bearings are metal balls held by a ring and allow the wheel on your vehicle to spin with as little friction as possible. Over time, bearings can break down due to a lack of lubrication and typical wear and tear. Driving on a bad wheel bearing can be dangerous, and could cause severe damage to your vehicle if you continue to drive on it. Luckily, diagnosing a failing wheel bearing is relatively easy and you can usually determine if there's a problem by listening to your wheels and evaluating any changes in your car's handling.
Steps
Method 1 Method 1 of 3:
Listening to Your Wheels
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1 Listen for snapping or popping when you turn. Snapping, popping, and clicking are all signs that the outer CV joint, which is the joint that connects your wheel to the axle, is starting to wear out. Sometimes, more severe turns will create a louder snapping or popping noise. If you hear this while you're driving, there's a good chance you have a bad axle.
Listen to what side the rattling is on, so you have an idea of which wheel bearing is going bad.
2 Listen for grinding, dragging, or roaring while you drive. When driving, worn out wheel bearings will sometimes sound like a break pad grinding or dragging. The longer you drive, the louder the grinding will sound. Drive down the road at 40 mph (17.8 mps) and listen for any grinding that you hear coming from your wheels. Advertisement
3 See if the buzzing sound changes as you change speeds. A common sign of a worn bearing is if the sound that's coming from your wheel changes as you accelerate or decelerate. If you already hear a buzzing or snapping sound, see if it gets more or less intense the faster you go. If the sound varies depending on how fast you're going, there's a good chance there's an issue with your wheel bearings.
Advertisement Method 2 Method 2 of 3:
Recognizing Other Symptoms
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1 Feel your steering wheel to determine if it's vibrating. If you're driving and your steering wheel is wobbling or vibrating, it's a good sign you may need to replace your bearings. When bearings break down, it can make your car feel "loose," which results in poor handling and a vibrating or wobbling steering wheel.[1]XResearch source
2 Pay attention to whether your wheels wobble. As you drive at higher speeds, your wheels may start to wobble from side to side. This is a sign that your bearings are going bad. Unfortunately, wobbling wheels are usually a sign of significant bearing damage, so you should stop driving and get them replaced immediately if this is the case.[2]XResearch source
3 See if your ABS light comes on. Cars with an anti-lock brake system will often have an indicator light on their dashboard. If this light comes on, there's a possibility it could be because of bad bearings. See if there are any additional symptoms to determine if it's your wheel bearings or a different part of your brake and suspension system.[3]XResearch source
4 Determine if your car drifts to one side. If your vehicle has a tendency to drift to one side when you're driving, the bearings may be bad. Drive down a straight road at a moderate speed and feel if the wheel is automatically turning to one side without you controlling it.[4]XResearch source
This symptom alone isn't a great indicator of bad wheel bearings because it can be caused by a multitude of other wheel alignment problems.
Advertisement Method 3 Method 3 of 3:
Evaluating Bearing Damage
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1 Lift your car using a jack. Read your owner's manual to learn where the jack points are on your car are. Position the jack near the wheel that you suspect has a bad bearing and jack up your car so that the wheel clears the road.[5]XResearch source
Make sure that you take the proper precautions when using a jack so that your car doesn't accidentally fall and injure you.
2 Wiggle the wheel back and forth to see if there is any movement. Push and pull on the wheel back and forth to feel if there's any give.[6]XResearch source If you can push the wheel back and forth, this is a sign of significant bearing damage. Get your bearings replaced immediately if your wheels wobble as you drive.
3 Spin the wheel and listen for a rattling sound. If you suspect a back wheel has a bad bearing, put your hand on the wheel and spin it as fast as you can. If the bearing is bad, it's likely it will make a rattling noise as you turn it. While it's not as severe as a wobbling wheel, rattling wheel bearings should be replaced as soon as possible.[7]XResearch source
The longer that you drive on a damaged wheel bearing, the worse the damage will get over time.
4 Take your car to a professional. If you're still unsure but suspect that there is something wrong with your wheel bearings, you should take it to a certified mechanic so that they can properly diagnose the problem.
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Community Q&A
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Question Will the hubs be hot? Community Answer They could potentially get very hot, but by that stage you'd know something was wrong. The noise coming from it would be very annoying and loud. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 0 Helpful 4
Question Car making a flat tire sound on the left side but there is no flat tire, why? Uglymug18 Community Answer This is most likely caused by a bad wheel bearing or a bad CV joint. Unless, of course, you actually have a flat tire or broken belt. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 3 Helpful 4
Question I have low growling noises sounds from the back that get louder the faster I go. One mechanic said change back tires, but the tires are good and have no wear. Another mechanic said he'd have to take it apart to see. What should I do? Community Answer It could just be the tires; just so you know, tread wear is not the only thing that affects your tires. But it could be something more serious, too. Go to a mechanic willing to look into the issue; the second mechanic mentioned seems like he'd be a good candidate. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 0 Helpful 5
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It is not usually necessary to replace all wheel bearings at the same time just because one is bad, but doing so may give you more peace of mind. Bearings can last several tens of thousands of miles before they fail and quality ones are not very cheap. Thanks Helpful 3 Not Helpful 1
If you were planning on having other work done (like replacing brake components) you can save time and labor fees by having them done at the same time your bearings are replaced. Thanks Helpful 4 Not Helpful 4
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Co-authored by: Jason Shackelford Auto Technician This article was co-authored by Jason Shackelford. Jason Shackelford is the Owner of Stingray Auto Repair, a family owned and operated auto repair shop with locations in Seattle and Redmond, Washington. He has over 24 years of experience in auto repair and services, and every single technician on Jason’s team has more than 10 years of experience. This article has been viewed 181,037 times. 130 votes - 97% Co-authors: 5Updated: May 7, 2025 Views: 181,037 Categories: Tires and SuspensionArticle SummaryX
To know if the wheel bearings in your car are going bad, listen for snapping, popping, or clicking sounds when you turn. These sounds are all signs that the joint connecting your wheel to your axel is starting to wear out. Notice if the sound coming from your wheel is changing as you change your speed, and notice if you feel your steering wheel vibrating when you drive. If you feel your wheels wobbling while you drive, you should stop driving immediately, since this is a sign of severe bearing damage. To find out how to evaluate your bearing damage, keep reading!Did this summary help you?YesNo
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Yes No Advertisement Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Co-authored by: Jason Shackelford Auto Technician Co-authors: 5Updated: May 7, 2025 Views: 181,03797% of readers found this article helpful. 130 votes - 97% Click a star to add your vote
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Co-authored by: Jason Shackelford Auto Technician This article was co-authored by Jason Shackelford. Jason Shackelford is the Owner of Stingray Auto Repair, a family owned and operated auto repair shop with locations in Seattle and Redmond, Washington. He has over 24 years of experience in auto repair and services, and every single technician on Jason’s team has more than 10 years of experience. This article has been viewed 181,037 times. 130 votes - 97% Co-authors: 5 Updated: May 7, 2025 Views: 181,037 Categories: Tires and Suspension Article SummaryX
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1 Listen for snapping or popping when you turn. Snapping, popping, and clicking are all signs that the outer CV joint, which is the joint that connects your wheel to the axle, is starting to wear out. Sometimes, more severe turns will create a louder snapping or popping noise. If you hear this while you're driving, there's a good chance you have a bad axle. 
2 Listen for grinding, dragging, or roaring while you drive. When driving, worn out wheel bearings will sometimes sound like a break pad grinding or dragging. The longer you drive, the louder the grinding will sound. Drive down the road at 40 mph (17.8 mps) and listen for any grinding that you hear coming from your wheels. Advertisement 
3 See if the buzzing sound changes as you change speeds. A common sign of a worn bearing is if the sound that's coming from your wheel changes as you accelerate or decelerate. If you already hear a buzzing or snapping sound, see if it gets more or less intense the faster you go. If the sound varies depending on how fast you're going, there's a good chance there's an issue with your wheel bearings. Advertisement 
1 Feel your steering wheel to determine if it's vibrating. If you're driving and your steering wheel is wobbling or vibrating, it's a good sign you may need to replace your bearings. When bearings break down, it can make your car feel "loose," which results in poor handling and a vibrating or wobbling steering wheel.[1] 
2 Pay attention to whether your wheels wobble. As you drive at higher speeds, your wheels may start to wobble from side to side. This is a sign that your bearings are going bad. Unfortunately, wobbling wheels are usually a sign of significant bearing damage, so you should stop driving and get them replaced immediately if this is the case.[2] 
3 See if your ABS light comes on. Cars with an anti-lock brake system will often have an indicator light on their dashboard. If this light comes on, there's a possibility it could be because of bad bearings. See if there are any additional symptoms to determine if it's your wheel bearings or a different part of your brake and suspension system.[3] 
4 Determine if your car drifts to one side. If your vehicle has a tendency to drift to one side when you're driving, the bearings may be bad. Drive down a straight road at a moderate speed and feel if the wheel is automatically turning to one side without you controlling it.[4] 
1 Lift your car using a jack. Read your owner's manual to learn where the jack points are on your car are. Position the jack near the wheel that you suspect has a bad bearing and jack up your car so that the wheel clears the road.[5] 
2 Wiggle the wheel back and forth to see if there is any movement. Push and pull on the wheel back and forth to feel if there's any give.[6] If you can push the wheel back and forth, this is a sign of significant bearing damage. Get your bearings replaced immediately if your wheels wobble as you drive. 
3 Spin the wheel and listen for a rattling sound. If you suspect a back wheel has a bad bearing, put your hand on the wheel and spin it as fast as you can. If the bearing is bad, it's likely it will make a rattling noise as you turn it. While it's not as severe as a wobbling wheel, rattling wheel bearings should be replaced as soon as possible.[7] 
4 Take your car to a professional. If you're still unsure but suspect that there is something wrong with your wheel bearings, you should take it to a certified mechanic so that they can properly diagnose the problem. Advertisement 
Community Answer They could potentially get very hot, but by that stage you'd know something was wrong. The noise coming from it would be very annoying and loud. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 0 Helpful 4 
Uglymug18 Community Answer This is most likely caused by a bad wheel bearing or a bad CV joint. Unless, of course, you actually have a flat tire or broken belt. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 3 Helpful 4 
Community Answer It could just be the tires; just so you know, tread wear is not the only thing that affects your tires. But it could be something more serious, too. Go to a mechanic willing to look into the issue; the second mechanic mentioned seems like he'd be a good candidate. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 0 Helpful 5 