What are the symptoms of a bad rear wheel bearing?
2 Answers
Here are the manifestations of a faulty rear wheel bearing in a car: 1. Abnormal noise is the main symptom of a bad rear wheel bearing. 2. When the rear wheel bearing fails, the wheel will wobble while driving, and as the vehicle speed increases, the entire car will shake more severely. 3. The car will emit a continuous humming sound, which becomes louder as the speed increases. The following are the causes of rear wheel bearing damage: 1. Damage or rust to components, caused by foreign objects entering or misalignment of the roller path, as well as prolonged exposure to acidic liquids or moisture, leading to rust. 2. Poor lubrication. If there is insufficient grease between the rollers and the raceway, dry friction will occur, resulting in abnormal metal friction sounds. 3. Clearance issues. There should be appropriate gaps between car components. When the distance between the rollers and the raceway becomes too small, it can easily cause friction and overheating, leading to bearing seizure.
When the rear wheel bearing of my car was damaged, the most noticeable symptom while driving was a loud humming noise, like the sound of an airplane engine, which got louder as the speed increased. On the highway, it was so noisy that it could drive you crazy. When turning or going around curves, there was also a noticeable friction-like vibration from the wheel area, and the steering wheel shook severely, making the handling feel unstable with a dragging sensation. The tire surface was also uneven, with the inner side wearing out much faster, showing obvious signs of uneven wear. I tried lifting the car and spinning the wheel myself, and the creaking noise became even clearer. If not repaired promptly, the bearing could completely fail, causing the wheel to loosen and wobble, significantly increasing the risk of a tire blowout at high speeds and potentially leading to an accident. It's best to go to a repair shop and replace the part as soon as possible—don't delay, safety comes first.