4 ways to quickly check your wheel bearing

No one needs to explain the importance of the serviceability of a car's wheel bearings, especially at high speeds and in heavy traffic. To diagnose them, a service station will require money from you. But you can check them yourself by the sound they make and the wheel play. Any person who drives a car can diagnose the condition of the bearings.

If the car is in good working order, then while driving you can hear the non-irritating sounds of the engine running and the noise made by the tires. When an unpleasant low-frequency hum is added to these familiar and detectable noises, which can appear or disappear, then there is a high probability that not everything is in order with the wheel bearings. Their condition can be checked in four simple ways.

Bearing diagnostics while driving

When moving straight, all bearings are loaded equally and it is difficult to determine which of them is humming. If at speed you turn the steering wheel slightly to the left, that is, create a roll, then the load will fall on the right wheel and on the right wheel bearing. When turning right, the opposite situation will occur: the left wheel and the left bearing will be loaded. By increasing the hum, we determine the faulty unit.

Checking the bearing with the wheel hanging

We lift the wheel off the floor with a jack and swing the wheel, first horizontally, then vertically. In this case, the hub nut and wheel bolts must be firmly and securely tightened. Care is needed here, because there can be play in both the ball and steering rods. Typically, the play in the bearing has a small amplitude and a slight knock.

Checking the bearing by spinning the suspended wheel

We engage third or fourth gear, spin the wheel, then turn off the engine, put the gear in neutral, quickly leave the cab and listen for the presence or absence of extraneous sounds.

Direct bearing inspection

To do this, remove the wheel, unscrew the hub nut or bolt and remove the knuckle from the drive shaft. Then you can directly determine the presence or absence of play by rocking the hub on your fist. If present, the play is 100% determined by a faulty wheel bearing.