Do You Know If The Wheel Bearings On Your Car Are Still Serviceable?
The average car has thousands of individual parts. Some are inherently designed to wear out and must be replaced periodically, while others will probably last for years without too much attention. Clearly, it's important to service those parts that will inevitably wear out, but it's also important to keep an eye on other components simply due to their importance and the amount of wear and tear that they endure. Why should you make sure that your vehicle's wheel bearings are carefully checked whenever you take your vehicle in for a routine service?
Dealing With Friction
Wheel bearings perform an incredibly important job and probably put up with more stress and tension than any other part. After all, they form the interface between the road wheel, which is rotating at high speed and the hub assembly, which is, of course, static. These bearings have to endure tremendous friction and high temperatures, and they are also quite exposed to road and weather conditions.
Bearing Maintenance
Many years ago, each wheel bearing was fully serviceable. This means that it could be disassembled, checked and resealed. The technician would add a copious amount of grease during such a service to ensure that the bearing could last longer.
However, today's wheel bearing is fully enclosed and not designed to be technically serviced. If it does wear out, it will need to be replaced, but it is nevertheless important for a mechanic to occasionally look at its condition and make sure that it is likely to last.
Signs of Degradation
Inside each bearing, you will find ball or roller bearings held within a cage. The objective is to reduce friction as much as possible, and the entire assembly is filled with special grease. When the grease begins to degrade, and the bearing starts to get old, it may not be able to rotate freely on the hub assembly. Should this happen, you may begin to notice a grinding noise as the vehicle changes speed. You may also feel a vibration in the steering as there may be excessive play between the assembly and the suspension part.
Expert Attention
When any of this happens, it's crucial to take the vehicle to a mechanic. They will take the road wheel off and determine if the bearing has reached the end of its life. Otherwise, ensure that the technician takes a look at each bearing during a routine service. They have tools that can detect if the bearing is still capable or whether you should consider replacements to be on the safe side. For more information, contact a car servicing company.