What noise does a broken bearing make?
2 Answers
A humming sound. Below are specific explanations about damage to the rear wheel bearing of a car: 1. Method to determine if it's damaged: After accelerating the car, let it coast in neutral. If the humming sound remains unchanged, it indicates a damaged rear wheel bearing. 2. Causes of rear wheel bearing damage: Broken or rusted components, entry of foreign objects, or tilting of the roller can cause damage. Prolonged exposure to acidic liquids and moisture can also lead to rusting of components; poor lubrication, if there's insufficient grease between the roller and raceway, dry friction may occur, producing abnormal metallic friction noises; clearance issues, there should be appropriate gaps between car parts, and when the distance between the roller and raceway decreases, it can easily cause friction heat, leading to bearing sintering.
I once experienced a bad wheel bearing in my used car, and the noise was particularly noticeable. Especially when accelerating, I could hear a continuous humming sound, like a little bee flying in the engine compartment. The faster the speed, the louder the hum; occasionally, it turned into a clicking or rattling noise when turning, which was really annoying. The mechanic said it was caused by worn bearing balls or insufficient lubrication, resulting in friction noise. If left untreated, the noise would worsen, leading to uneven tire wear and increased fuel consumption. I advise my friends to pay attention to such abnormal sounds while driving. Once heard, go to a professional shop for inspection immediately—simply jack up the wheel and manually rotate it to listen, and you can easily diagnose the issue.
