how much damage can a bad wheel bearing do? - Suspension and Brake Forum

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how much damage can a bad wheel bearing do?
Sunday, August 12, 2007 9:07 PM
im almost certin my wheel bearing is shot, i hit a brick in the road doing about 40 and tore up the front passanger side rim and tires about a year ago. had them all changed and the brakes changed then 2 months later had grinding noises after breaks had warmed up. i just had them checked and all places said the breaks were still good and when they finished puttin the wheels back on i tried movin the wheels and the passanger side where i hit had movement.

so it only grinds after some city braking and there warm, then when its about to stop it sounds like the wheel is tryin to stop with rocks and it drifts a little to the left.

so if it is a bearing what else can get damaged cuz im tight on money and time for a while. can anyone else think of anyhting else that i might have to change when i get it all apart?


Kill list:03 eclipse, 06 GTO, 04 Mach 1 Mustang



Re: how much damage can a bad wheel bearing do?
Sunday, August 12, 2007 10:48 PM
If the bearing goes, you could lose the wheel and the axle since it is bolted to inner part of the hub. Mucho damage and expense. Before you replace the bearing though, take off the wheel and possibly the brake rotor and grab the wheel flange and rock it up and down and side to side, and give it a few rotations by hand, just so you can be sure it IS the bearing. If so, get it replaced ASAP.



Re: how much damage can a bad wheel bearing do?
Monday, August 13, 2007 6:49 AM
thanx im gonn try to hit that this week


Kill list:03 eclipse, 06 GTO, 04 Mach 1 Mustang


Re: how much damage can a bad wheel bearing do?
Monday, August 13, 2007 3:03 PM
Greg Z. wrote:If the bearing goes, you could lose the wheel and the axle since it is bolted to inner part of the hub. Mucho damage and expense. Before you replace the bearing though, take off the wheel and possibly the brake rotor and grab the wheel flange and rock it up and down and side to side, and give it a few rotations by hand, just so you can be sure it IS the bearing. If so, get it replaced ASAP.


You will NOT lose the wheel if the bearing fails. It would take driving on a VERY bad bearing at least 30,000 miles or more, before it even had a chance of falling off. I have seen seen a wheel fall off due to a bad bearing, seen them get towed in to our shop due to tie rods, and ball joints sperating, but wheel bearings nope.

Secondly if you have play in the bearing, you will be able to shake the wheel in all directions up, down, side to side and all over.

A bad wheel bearing makes a grinding sound and usually goes away when turning the direction of the one thats not bad

You will normally have a viberation in the steering wheel also, mainly at higher speeds




- 2004 Cavalier - 124k, owned since new



Re: how much damage can a bad wheel bearing do?
Tuesday, August 14, 2007 5:07 AM
keep in mind i could also be a strut bearing


THERE CAN BE ONLY ONE, i have already died once and im still here so lets just leave it on the track
Re: how much damage can a bad wheel bearing do?
Tuesday, August 14, 2007 6:58 AM
Rob S wrote:
Greg Z. wrote:If the bearing goes, you could lose the wheel and the axle since it is bolted to inner part of the hub. Mucho damage and expense. Before you replace the bearing though, take off the wheel and possibly the brake rotor and grab the wheel flange and rock it up and down and side to side, and give it a few rotations by hand, just so you can be sure it IS the bearing. If so, get it replaced ASAP.
You will NOT lose the wheel if the bearing fails. It would take driving on a VERY bad bearing at least 30,000 miles or more, before it even had a chance of falling off. I have seen seen a wheel fall off due to a bad bearing, seen them get towed in to our shop due to tie rods, and ball joints sperating, but wheel bearings nope.
I drove on a bad bearing for about 100 miles, and the wheel was just about off. A couple more miles and it would have been, taking the axle with it.




fortune cookie say: better a delay than a disaster
Re: how much damage can a bad wheel bearing do?
Wednesday, August 15, 2007 3:45 PM
I've drove about 15,000km on a bad wheel bearing on my old car......Got so loud at highway speeds that you couldnt have a conversation.........

Looking back at that now I cant believe I did it.........lol



Re: how much damage can a bad wheel bearing do?
Wednesday, August 15, 2007 4:57 PM
yeah i think i have the same problem.. tires are lulling the faster you go../w shaking steering wheel. turn right and the noise goes away... wheel bearings?

"Z24 Dustbunny"
Re: how much damage can a bad wheel bearing do?
Monday, August 27, 2007 8:06 PM
well i got the car up and the wheel didnt move this time, so im lost again, im still thinkin its the brakes so ill tear em down and see what happens this weekend


Kill list:03 eclipse, 06 GTO, 04 Mach 1 Mustang


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