Bad wheel bearing, how to spot it and what to do

Sometimes a bad wheel bearing is obvious, sometimes it’s difficult to diagnose. From Flagstaff Transmission Specialists in Flagstaff, AZ, here are some symptoms to watch out for, and what to do about a bad wheel bearing.

Your wheel bearings are responsible for a lot - wheel alignment, how smooth the vehicle rides, and most importantly, making sure the wheels stay on. How do you know if one of your bearings are failing?

It will make noise. A bad wheel bearing will typically be noisy. Sometimes it can be difficult to hear over normal road noise, especially if your vehicle has good soundproofing. Other times, it will be a very obvious roar coming from one specific wheel. Either way, it’ll sound like excessive road noise, a sort of dull roar that sounds like it’s coming from a specific area. If you’re suddenly noticing your car or truck is making a strange noise like this wheel bearings might be to blame.

Your tires are wearing badly and you have issues steering. Bad bearings will affect the alignment of your vehicle and the way your car handles. If your tires are wearing through quickly or unevenly, or your car seems to drift around on the road, a wheel bearing or alignment issue is to blame. A simple stop by the shop here at Flagstaff Transmission Specialists will get you answers promptly and stop any issues you might be having.

Warning Light. On many modern cars, a bad wheel bearing will trigger a warning light. The ABS or traction control warnings will often illuminate, since a bad bearing will trip the system to deactivate.

If you think you might have a failing wheel bearing, let us get it diagnosed and repaired as soon as possible. Bad bearings heat up and damage other components, in addition to other hazards. It will cost less to fix than the new tires you’ll need if it goes neglected, and at worst you’re at risk of a wheel falling off while travelling down the road.

No matter your maintenance or repair needs, our professional technicians have you covered. For the best repair and service shop in Flagstaff, AZ, call or stop by Flagstaff Transmission Specialists today.

Thank you for visiting Flagstaff Transmission Specialists in Flagstaff, AZ. You can count on our automotive repair technicians and transmission specialist to keep your car, truck, suv, van, or entire fleet on the roads longer and safer.