The wheel hub or a wheel bearing is a disc support where the wheel bolts are fixed. The bearings are intended to make the CV-joint transmit the torque and put it in motion. Hence, the maintenance of a wheel hub not only eliminates unnecessary expenses but also ensures traffic safety and prevents accidents. That said, we have compiled a list of wheel hub failure symptoms so that you can change them before it’s too late.
Five Bad Wheel Hub Failure Symptoms
Although the wheel hub has a long service life, it can be damaged due to bumps, by falling into holes or rough driving. Here are some wheel hub failure symptoms that can help you to identify before it goes completely bad and creates hazardous conditions. The symptoms include:
Squeaky Sound Coming From the Tyre
The damaged wheel bearing within the single assembly can also be the reason for bad wheel hub assembly. This car wheel part will make a shrill sound, similar to a metal-to-metal friction sound. This sound is caused by a lack of lubrication within the bearing, a misaligned bearing or the cracked one.
It is difficult to identify which bearing is damaged just by sound. However, if you find the side wheel hub assembly broken, replace both sides on the same axle.
Besides, there can also be other reasons for squealing noises coming from your car. Thus, check and repair your vehicle accordingly.
Steering Wheel Vibrate
Check the wheel hub when the steering wheel starts vibrating at lower speeds. A damaged wheel hub can also cause the steering wheel to come loose when you’re driving down the road, especially when cornering. This is usually due to a worn wheel bearing within the hub assembly. Besides, there can also be other reasons why your car’s steering wheel shakes.
Wheels Emit an Increasing Click-Click Sound As They Turn
Finally, if you hear a clicking sound that increases in speed as the vehicle accelerates, this could also be a problem with the wheel hub assembly. In this case, the brake calliper will move up and down and hit the top of the wheels as the vehicle drives down the street. This is because the wheel hub assembly bearing is broken.
Difficulty in Applying Brake
The brake rotor can also wobble due to a bad wheel hub. Hence, when applying the brake, the calliper piston back will shove back into its bore. This is why it becomes hard to stop or pull the vehicle to one side. Also, check if you need to replace brake pads and rotor when facing squealing, pulsation and squeaking from the pedal.
You May Lose Control of Your Vehicle
One of the main wheel hub failure symptoms is losing control over your vehicle while driving. This may occur because the wheel bearing keeps the wheel moving on an axis and if the bearing is compromised, it may unable to maintain the axis. This can be extremely dangerous, especially when you are driving at high speed.
Other Signs of Bad Wheel Hub Bearing
Bad wheel hub symptoms can also be identified during maintenance. Most of the time, these symptoms will be noticed by a professional when turning the wheels during the service of brake maintenance, tyre rotation or even in an oil change where the vehicle is suspended.
When the vehicle is on an elevator and the wheel is still firmly attached to the wheel hub, the wheel assembly swings sideways or up and down when pulled. This is the indication of a broken wheel hub and must be replaced immediately. Again, broken wheel hub assemblies must be replaced in pairs on the same axle.
Improperly tightening the bolts that secure the wheel to the hub can also cause the wheel to bend or loosen and lead to accidents. Hence, it is important to take care in purchasing the correct wheel hub for the vehicle being serviced. If you are looking to buy a used car in the UAE, make sure you check its wheel bearing before taking it out on the road.
With this, we conclude our guide on the wheel hub failure symptoms. Driving with a bad wheel bearing is quite dangerous, hence, make sure you keep a check on these symptoms and change the wheel hub when needed. You can buy wheel parts for sale in the UAE when it goes bad.
Stay tuned to the UAE’s top auto blog for more car maintenance tips.
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