Updated January 31, 2025
While heading down the road to your next activity, you might have heard a noise, seen a dashboard light turn on, or felt a shaking.
These symptoms can be the result of a number of problems. One possibility is that something is wrong with a hub bearing. This component takes the place of what used to be called “wheel bearings.”
The bearing is pressed inside of the hub. The hub is bolted to the steering knuckle and the wheel is bolted to it, enabling it to spin.
A lot of times, the Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) is built into the hub bearings. This allows the computer to determine how fast each wheel is spinning.
This setup can vary among vehicles. For some cars, the hub and bearing come separate. Others have hub assemblies, where multiple items are put together.
Causes and signs of a bad hub bearing
A hub bearing’s lifespan can be impacted by a couple of factors, including road conditions.
If there’s a lot of salt and sand on the road, it could lead to corrosion.
Impacts also play a role. For example, if you hit a lot of potholes, the wheel bearing could wear out more quickly.
Drivers may notice these symptoms when the hub bearing is going bad:
- ABS light
- Growling noise
- Roaring sound
- Traction control light
- Vibration
Noisy hub bearing on Mercedes-Benz
If a vehicle has a bad hub bearing, drivers may hear what appears to be a roaring sound or a growling noise.
When on a test drive, one of our technicians heard a growling sound that was coming from the driver’s side rear of a Mercedes-Benz GLE350. The noise changed when turning, indicating that the problem was with the bearing.
A lot of these new bearings now have the tone ring and the anti-lock braking system (ABS) wheel speed sensor built into them. So, you may see the ABS light and Traction Control Light appear. In rare occasions, the ABS can falsely engage if you have a damaged tone ring inside the wheel bearing.
If the bearing is loose, it may cause the wheel to shake a little bit, creating a vibration.
Keep in mind that you might not experience any indicators. You may go in to get your car inspected and the inspector says, “Hey, your wheel bearing is loose.”
Hub bearing repair: what does that look like today?
Hub bearing repair looks a little different nowadays.
You used to be able to clean and repack bearings if they were loose. For today’s vehicles, they just make them a sealed unit.
So, when a bearing isn’t as tight as it should be or is bad, it’s likely going to involve replacing the component.
When giving quotes to our customers, we usually give the price for a hub bearing as well as a hub, because there are some things you can’t predict. We would rather plan for the worst and hope for the best.
If you notice one of the symptoms mentioned earlier or something seems amiss, ask an automotive technician to inspect your vehicle and take it for a drive. They might be able to pick up on a noise or behavior that you’ve gotten used to.
Steve’s Auto Repair & Tire is an authorized Goodyear tire dealer located in Woodbridge, Virginia. Automotive repair services are performed on all makes and models, including BMW and Mercedes. Services include oil changes, brakes, alignments, inspections, and computer engine diagnostics.