How to Determine Which Front Wheel Bearing is Damaged in a Car?
2 Answers
There are several methods to determine which front wheel bearing is damaged in a car, mainly including: 1. After driving, the car may emit abnormal noises. The way to check if the front wheel bearing is damaged is to listen carefully for such noises while driving. 2. Rotate the tire with your right hand and place your left hand on the shock absorber spring to feel for vibrations. If the spring vibrates significantly, it indicates a damaged bearing. Because a damaged front wheel bearing increases friction, the vehicle will generate high heat immediately after driving. At this time, touching it with your hand will feel scalding. If the abnormal noise is caused by the bearing, while driving, turn the steering wheel left and right. If the noise disappears when turning left and persists when turning right, it indicates a problem with the left front bearing. Conversely, the same logic applies to the right side.
I just had a bearing issue fixed, and identifying which front wheel bearing is damaged isn't actually difficult. Pay attention to sound changes while driving: if there's a humming noise at low speeds, especially more noticeable when turning. If the noise diminishes when turning left, it's likely the right bearing is faulty; if it lessens when turning right, the left side might be the problem. This is because the wheel doesn't rotate smoothly when the bearing is damaged. Checking after parking is also crucial: lift the car (safety first) and shake each front wheel by hand. If there's looseness or a clicking sensation, that side has an issue. Don't ignore it—last time I delayed, it wore out other parts and cost me extra. Loose wheels pose significant risks, so promptly visit a repair shop for testing; professional tools will pinpoint the exact fault.
