Wheel Bearing Replacement Cost
- Rear Wheel Bearings. On average, you can expect to pay between $190 and $310 for the parts associated with replacing your rear wheel bearings.
- Front Wheel Bearings. As for replacing your front wheel bearings, this service actually costs more. ...
- Front and Rear Wheel Bearings. ...
- Hub Bearing. ...
What is the average cost of replacing wheel bearings?
Vehicles with traditional, tapered wheel bearings should have them serviced every 25,000 to 30,000 miles — replacement may not be necessary as long as they're maintained. The average cost for a Wheel Bearing Replacement is between $240 and $267 but can vary from car to car.
How much does a wheel bearing cost to get fixed?
When labor is factored in, the total labor costs can cost anywhere from $150 to as much as $350 per front or rear bearing. If more than one bearing needs to replaced, this quote can easily double. This will all depend on the shop’s labor rate, but most will be between $40 to $75 per hour, and each bearing should take about two hours to fix/replace.
What tools are needed to change a wheel bearing?
Things You'll Need
- Wheel bearing assembly
- Breaker bar
- Jack
- Socket set
- Ratchet
- Screwdriver
- Rubber mallet
- Sandpaper
When should I replace my wheel bearings?
What to look for when buying or replacing bearings
- Beware of cheap bearings constructed of low quality steel with poor heat-treating. ...
- Cheaper hub assemblies might include bearings that are smaller than OEM, which is another factor that could lead to early part failure. ...
- Note that manufacturers recommend a torque wrench rather than an impact wrench when installing. ...
How much does it cost to replace both wheel bearings?
Both Sides The cost to replace both front wheel bearings is going to be between $260 and $480. The parts alone for the front wheel bearings are about $120 to $200. However, the labor costs will be a bit more extensive at around $140 to $280.
How much should it cost to replace front wheel bearings?
As for replacing your front wheel bearings, this service actually costs more. The average labor costs are between $350 and $450 while the average parts cost is between $150 and $300.
Can I change only one wheel bearing?
If bearings go bad at one wheel, it is unnecessary to replace the bearings at the other wheel on the same axle.
What does it sound like when a wheel bearing is going out?
The classic sounds of a bad wheel bearing are cyclic chirping, squealing and/or growling noise. You can also tell that the sound is related to wheel bearings if it changes in proportion to vehicle speed. The sound can get worse with every turn, or it can disappear momentarily.
What is a wheel bearing?
What’s a Wheel Bearing Do? Wheel bearings are the component that allow the other parts of your wheels to work smoothly. The wheel bearings are a series of steel balls encased in the hub of your wheel. They are packed with grease, and as your wheel spins they move inside a race, the metal ring that holds them in place.
How to tell if wheel bearings are bad?
The first of these feelings that you’ll find is vibration . When a wheel bearing begins to go bad you’ll feel it in one or two places, either vibrating through the steering column and into your hands, and/or in the entire vehicle itself. This vibration is a pretty good indicator that a wheel bearing may be starting to go bad.
Why does my wheel bearing make a groaning sound?
They tend to grind, making a loud groaning sound. This is a result of the steel balls making contact with the race due to a lack of lubrication.
Why do tires wear unevenly?
Often, tires can wear unevenly due to alignment issues , but in the case of a bad wheel bearing you’ll most often find that the wear on one tire is worse than the others. This is the bad wheel in the bunch. This uneven wear is noticeable, and will persist on the wheel with the bad bearing as you rotate your tires.
Where is the wheel bearing on a skateboard?
Think about it like a skateboard bearing, if you’re familiar, but on a much larger and more complex scale. The wheel bearing is at the center of the wheel, in its hub , and it allows for the wheel to move smoothly. Without it, your wheels wouldn’t spin efficiently, or spin at all, really.
Do you have to replace a wheel bearing?
Now, you may never have to replace a wheel bearing, as they’re typically pretty hardy. However, if you do, there’s a chance that the wheel bearing opposite the bad one has suffered through the same experiences that the bad one has. Keeping that in mind, it’s safe to say that it’s nearing the end of its life, as well.
Can a wheel bearing go bad?
Well, as a general rule of thumb, yes. When you’ve identified that one wheel bearing has gone bad, then it’s likely the problem has affected the other side of the vehicle. When a part goes bad on one side of the vehicle, the other side of the vehicle tends to compensate, affecting its overall performance, as well.
How much does it cost to replace rear wheel bearings?
Rear Wheel Bearings. On average, you can expect to pay between $190 and $310 for the parts associated with replacing your rear wheel bearings. The average labor costs will be between $225 and $350.
What happens if your wheel bearing is worn out?
If a wheel bearing is worn out or defective, it will cause your car to slow down unintentionally or it will prevent your car from moving at all. If the car slows down then you’ll notice a lot of shakiness and loud squeaky noises when it moves.
Why do bicycles have bearings?
You’ll even find them in bicycles because they use wheels to move as well. Bearings come in many different shapes and sizes, depending on the make and model of your car. The job of a wheel bearing is to help the wheel spin without causing much friction. If a wheel bearing is worn out or defective, it will cause your car to slow down unintentionally ...
What Is A Wheel Bearing?
A wheel bearing plays a crucial role in the movement of a vehicle’s wheels, as it allows the wheels to rotate with minimal friction. It’s part of the assembly that connects the wheel to the axle and consists of a set of steel balls or tapered bearings held together by a metal ring.
Types of Wheel Bearings
Wheel bearings come in different shapes and sizes, but they all serve the same purpose, which is to allow your wheels to rotate freely without being impeded by excess friction.
Wheel Bearing Replacement Cost
Now that you know what a wheel bearing is and what could happen if it fails, let’s look at how much it costs to replace one. As stated earlier, the cost will vary depending on the make, model, and year of your vehicle, as well as the labor cost charged for the repair.
Why Wheel Bearings Fail
Wheel bearings are designed to withstand a lot of abuse, but many variables can cause them to fail prematurely.
Symptoms Of Bad Wheel Bearings
When a wheel bearing becomes faulty, you will often notice one or more of the following symptoms. Don’t ignore them — get your car or truck inspected.
Wheel Bearing Replacement FAQs
Why are we not surprised that you have even more questions not only about how much it costs to replace a wheel bearing but also about wheel bearings in general? Well, keep reading for more answers.
Final Thoughts
The wheel bearing is a part of your car’s wheel assembly responsible for spinning each wheel smoothly with as little friction as possible.
What Is a Wheel Bearing?
At each corner of your vehicle, a wheel bearing is spinning around furiously when your car rolls. The wheel bearing is the part that enables the rotation of the wheels. It is located in the center of the wheel assembly. It consists of a housing and internal roller or ball bearings that are in what are called races, or holders.
Why Do Wheel Bearings Need Replacement?
Curb strikes, pot-hole strikes, and contamination. These are the biggies. Wheel bearings can live almost indefinitely spinning around and around with a normal load in a clean test lab.
What Are the Symptoms of Needing a Wheel Bearing?
You can sometimes detect a worn wheel bearing when you drive. The cabin of the vehicle will become louder. You'll start to hear a sort of hum. Not unlike winter tire hum. “That right front wheel bearing is getting loud,” a mechanic might say if she test drives your car.
What About Electric Cars - Do They Need Wheel Bearings?
A wheel bearing is a component that all vehicles use. There is no advantage to having an EV when it comes to wheel bearings. In fact, EVs are generally heavier than other vehicles in their segment. That is not a good thing for parts that are under the vehicle holding up the load and spinning.
Are Wheel Bearings Covered Under My Warranty?
If your vehicle is still under your bumper-to-bumper warranty, a wheel bearing is likely going to be covered by that new car warranty. Unless there is obvious curb-strike damage. Extended warranties and powertrain warranties don’t usually include wheel bearings. If you have a comprehensive full-whammy extended warranty, it’s worth a try.
What Factors Determine The Cost of a Wheel Bearing Replacement?
Like many repairs, your make and model will influence how much it costs to replace a wheel bearing. Also, expect to pay a bit more for a wheel bearing replacement at a dealership. Possibly much more.
Average Cost To Replace a Wheel Bearing
Using Car Talk’s exclusive algorithm, we scoured the world wide web for prices on wheel bearing replacements. The overall average of what we found was between $300 and $500. This is the cost for a mechanic to make it happen, not the cost of the part itself. For part pricing, it is better to search online using your exact year, make, and model.
What Is A Wheel Bearing?
As mentioned previously, a wheel bearing allows the wheel to rotate seamlessly. In a car, the bearings are usually tapered rolling bearings, but roller and ball bearings exist as well.
Symptoms Of A Bad Wheel Bearing
Unless there is a sudden problem with the wheel seal or you hit a large pothole, wheel bearings usually deteriorate gradually and therefore give you enough time to act.
Replacement Cost
A bad wheel bearing should be replaced as soon as possible, and you should keep your driving to a minimum.
Summary
Wheel bearings are important components of your car that help your wheel rotate smoothly. They usually have a long lifespan, typically lasting for around 100,000 miles.
How much does it cost to replace a wheel bearing?
If you have to replace both the front and rear wheel bearings, it will cost anywhere between $800-$1000.
How to tell if a wheel bearing is bad?
You can easily detect whether it’s a front or rear bearing problem by listening to both the passenger and driver sides. Wheel bearing noise can be confused for sound coming from defective tires, though, so it’s always best to get your car checked by a professional mechanic.
What does it mean when your steering wheel is wobbling?
Vibration and Wobbling. If you begin to notice any wobbling or vibrating in your steering wheel, this is a good indicator that you have bad bearings, and you need to replace them. When your bearings wear out, your car will feel loose for the most part, resulting in a shaky or vibrating steering wheel.
What type of bearings are used in cars?
There are four common types of wheel bearings, but standard ball bearings and precision ball bearings are the only types used in cars. Wheel bearings are essential for your wheels to move correctly. Hence, when they begin to wear out, you have to replace them as soon as possible.
Why do my bearings make a grinding noise?
The grinding noise occurs as the bearings begin to lose their lubrication, and the metal parts rub against each other aggressively.
Why do my car bearings wear out?
Over time, your bearings will naturally begin to wear out. Excess wear on bearings can occur if your vehicle is overloaded, causing the bearings to break down. A lack of lubrication can also contribute to the typical wear and tear of the bearings.
How long do sealed bearings last?
Most vehicles have sealed bearings that do not require any maintenance at all. Sealed bearings will last 100,000 miles or more. Weather conditions also play a role in how long your bearings will last. For those that drive in moist conditions a lot, the bearings are likely to rust relatively quickly.
What happens if a wheel bearing fails?
If the wheel bearing fails completely, it's possible for the wheel to come off the vehicle and cause a wreck.
How long do tapered wheel bearings last?
Vehicles with traditional, tapered wheel bearings should have them serviced every 25,000 to 30,000 miles — replacement may not be necessary as long as they're maintained.
Why is the wheel bearing lubricated?
The wheel bearing is lubricated with grease in order to further reduce friction.
How to tell if wheel bearings are bad?
Wheel bearings are hardened steel ball bearings that roll around inside a casing on your vehicle’s axles. When you hear a growling or grinding noise from your wheel or wheels, it might be indication that bearings are failing, usually due to a lack of lubrication. The noise will grow progressively worse and there will be a certain roughness to the ride of your car, truck or SUV. It may also be evident by a vibration that travels up your steering wheel. The longer you drive on failing bearings, the more expensive the damage to your vehicle can be. Depending on the vehicle and its front, rear or all-wheel-drive, repairs can be quite involved. Brakes and rotor assemblies are removed first to expose the axle nut and hub assembly. The old bearings are removed and replaced with new units and then reassembled. A certified mechanic at your dealership service department or at a local automotive repair center can do the replacements.
What happens if you drive on a failing bearing?
It may also be evident by a vibration that travels up your steering wheel. The longer you drive on failing bearings, the more expensive the damage to your vehicle can be.
