What are the symptoms of a bad rear wheel bearing?
2 Answers
As the core component that bears the vehicle's weight and provides rotational capability for the tires, wheel bearings operate in extremely harsh conditions. They must withstand pressure and vibrations during driving while also enduring attacks from rainwater and sand/gravel. Even the best wheel bearings can't guarantee permanent durability in such demanding environments. There are three main symptoms when a rear wheel bearing fails: 1. Abnormal noises: The most prominent sign of bearing failure is a "humming" or buzzing noise during vehicle operation. 2. Vehicle vibration: If the bearing damage becomes severe enough to increase its clearance, noticeable vibration will occur during high-speed driving. 3. Unstable driving: When front wheel bearings are excessively damaged, it may cause unstable driving performance at high speeds, including erratic power delivery and handling issues.
I've been driving cars for over 20 years, and the symptoms of a bad rear wheel bearing are quite obvious: first, there's a humming noise coming from the wheel, which gets louder at higher speeds, sounding like metal grinding. Later, the car body starts to vibrate slightly, the steering wheel shakes noticeably, and the car feels unstable when turning, prone to skidding. Once, I was driving on the highway at night and didn't fix the noise in time, resulting in severe bearing damage and a costly repair. This taught me that any unusual sound from the car should not be ignored. Regular tire checks and listening for noises can prevent major issues. Safe driving is more important than anything else, so it's crucial to get any symptoms checked by a mechanic as soon as possible.