Sometimes a bad wheel bearing is obvious, sometimes it’s difficult to diagnose. From Wensel Service Centers in Spring City and Reading, PA, 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 is failing?

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’ll 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 vehicle wasn’t always so noisy, a bearing might be to blame.

Tire wear/poor steering

A bad bearing will affect the alignment of your wheel 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. If you can jack the car up off the ground, and there’s any wiggle room in and out with your hands placed at the top and bottom of the tire, your wheel bearing is definitely failing.

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, have it diagnosed and repaired as soon as possible. Bad bearings heat up and damage other components, in addition to other hazards. It will probably 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 Spring City and Reading, PA, call or stop by Wensel Service Centers today.

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