5 Reasons For Wheel Bearing Failure

5 Common Reasons for Wheel Bearing Failure

1. Driving Through Deep Water

While the seal is there to act as a barrier against dirt, debris, and water, it cannot withstand large quantities of water putting pressure on it. Driving in water that is hub deep or higher may allow water into the wheel bearing. This will contaminate the lubricant, causing potential wheel bearing failure. This is why the passenger side wheel bearings tend to wear out more quickly, since they spend more time in standing water in the gutter, when parked. If you have driven through flooded roads or puddles, you should have your wheel bearings checked immediately.

2. Poor Road Conditions

If you consistently drive on bumpy roads, dirt roads, salty roads, or roads with potholes this will take a toll on your wheel bearings. The wheel bearings are carrying your entire car while ensuring your wheels continue to spin as needed. We put a lot of strain on them just from daily driving. When bumps occur we are putting extra strain on them.

The other danger is salt and dirt on the road. Salt will wear out your seals, allowing dirt to sneak into your wheel bearing. These contaminants can compromise the lubricant, which is necessary to prevent too much friction. Over time this will cause wheel bearing failure. If you consistently drive in poor road conditions you will need to have your wheel bearings checked sooner than the average vehicle.

3. Unbalanced Tires

You should be getting your tires balanced on a regular basis for many reasons. One of those reasons is to protect your wheel bearings. If your tires are not balanced you will be putting uneven strain on certain tires, causing those wheel bearings to work much harder, and wear out faster.

4. Overweight Loads

If you haul heavy loads your wheel bearings will wear out more quickly. An often forgotten wheel bearing is on trailers. So don’t forget to have those wheel bearings checked along with your vehicle. If your vehicle is consistently weighed down, you will need to replace your wheel bearings more frequently.

5. Improper Installation

Unfortunately, another common cause of wheel bearing failure is improper installation. This can occur if a mechanic is negligent or doesn’t install the wheel bearings according to manufacturer guidelines. They may also use poor quality wheel bearings. Using a low quality wheel bearing will cause premature wear and possible failure because they will mix hard and soft metal, causing spalling to occur. Spalling is when the bearing wears down enough to the soft metal underneath, which will peel off in flakes.

If you recently had your wheel bearings installed or repaired and you are still experiencing issues, take it back to your mechanic immediately. In order to avoid this inconvenient and unsafe situation, it is important to find a reliable mechanic that you trust to do a good job in the first place.