Wheel bearing & hubs
The wheel bearing and the wheel hub both have important roles in the suspension of the car. The wheel bearing is crucial for the functioning of the wheel hub, tyres and wheels. It allows a friction-free movement of the hub, and thus provides a smooth tyre and wheel rotation. The hub and bearing are connected with each other. For many cars, they are two separate parts. However, nowadays it is more common that the wheel bearing is directly equipped with the wheel hub. Note that this depends on the brand and type of car you have.
Wheel bearing The wheel bearing ensures that the wheel can make an optimal and smooth rotating movement. This makes the bearing an important part of the suspension of your car. A wheel bearing is a set of steel balls that are held together with a metal ring called a race. Those steel balls allow the metal rings to move independently of each other, enabling the wheel to turn. As the wheel bearing is heavily loaded while driving and is therefore subject to wear.
Wheel bearing noise
Defects to the wheel bearing can be caused by age, driving on curbs, sporty driving or driving on rough terrain. A worn wheel bearing is often easy to recognize. When making a slight turn at high speed, do you hear a humming or buzzing noise? Then the wheel bearing is often broken and needs to be replaced. Make sure you check the wheel bearing when hearing this noise while making a turn. It is important that you do not drive too long with a worn bearing. Driving on for too long can cause extra damage to the suspension. So, make sure you replace the bearing in time!
Wheel bearing replacement
How easy it is to replace a wheel bearing depends on whether it has a connection to the drive shaft. Bearing without drive shaft are often easier to replace. Wheel bearing replacement goes something like this; first remove the wheel. The brake caliper also needs to be removed. Next, remove the cap, which is located in the middle on the brake drum or on the brake disc . Under the cap you can find two bearings, one inner and one outer bearing. First, remove the reverse bearing seal, now you can remove the bearing. Then you remove the conical bearing. Now you can mount the new wheel bearing in the reversed order.
Wheel hub
The wheel hub is the mounting assembly for the wheel of a vehicle. It houses the wheel bearing and supports the lugs. The wheel hub is mounted to the drive shaft and is connected to the brake disc. You can find the wheel hub in the center of the wheel of your car. The function of the wheel hub is to keep the wheel spinning freely on the wheel bearing. It is important that the wheel hub is always in a good condition as it is the only part that actually hold the wheel to the car.
Wheel hub broken
Problems with a wheel hub are often difficult to detect and there are several reasons why a wheel hub might break. One reason that the wheel hub may fail is that there is not enough lubricant present. Continuous overloading the car or having an aggressive driving style can also cause the wheel hub to fail. Other causes are; poor road quality, system leakage or ingress of dirt and water. Defects on a wheel hub can be recognized by a number of symptoms. One of the symptoms is that the car is not able to drive as fast as usual. Also, a buzzing noise when taking a turn can indicate a defect to the wheel hub. Another symptom that could indicate a failing wheel hub is when the suspension starts making ticking noises while driving. Do you recognize any of these problems? Then it is important to check the wheel hub of your car.
Wheel hub replacement
When replacing the wheel hub yourself, it is best to do this while the wheel is still mounted on the car. We also recommend replacing the wheel hub in pairs. For the wheel hub replacement, you need the following tools: a car jack, pliers, screwdriver, chisel and a hammer. First, in case you have them on your car, remove the wheel trims . Next, unscrew the wheel nuts and press the hub out. This might take a lot of power. When you are not able to get the hub out, it can be taken apart using the puller of a sliding hammer. However, it is best to have someone assist you with this.
Order wheel bearing and hub Turns out the wheel bearing or the wheel hub of your car needs to be replaced? Then you can easily and quickly order these car parts on our website. Select your vehicle and the right parts for your car will be displayed.