When you check the wheel bearing seals What are you looking for?
Recommended action. It is critical that you inspect the bearings and seals frequently for evidence of leaks. During the inspection, you check if the bearing seals are punctured, have become loose, or have suffered other damage due to the contaminants seeping in.
Why do rear wheel bearings have to be sealed?
However, modern vehicles are equipped with sealed units to keep debris, dust, and moisture at bay. Sealed units last longer as they are able to prevent contamination and reduce premature wear. However, because they are one collective piece, they cannot be serviced, cleaned, or greased.
What causes a wheel bearing to make noise?
Seals protect bearings from the elements, water, and debris, and they also seal in the high-temperature grease the bearing needs. When a seal is broken or damaged, the wheel bearing will fail and start making noise.
How to remove front wheel tapered bearing and seal?
Front wheel tapered bearing sets and seals for disc and drum brakes Bearing/seal removal 1 . Raise the front end of the car on a hoist, or safe support it on jack stands. Never work on a car supported only by a bumper jack. 2. Remove the hubcap or wheel cover. Use a wrench or jack handle to take off wheel lug nuts.
How do you replace a wheel end seal?
With seal side down, lay the rotor or drum on the loor. Place a drift or broom handle against the inner face of the bearing cone. Carefull tap out the old seal and inner bearing (ig. 4). 8. Before discarding the seal, record its part number to aid in selecting the correct SKF replacement.
What makes front wheel bearings last so long?
Good wheel bearings mean the wheel has almost no wobble or excess play. Front wheel bearings are built into the steering knuckle arm assembly and connected to drive axle components of your vehicle. These bearings are made to last for many years without needing to be replaced.
What are the symptoms of bad wheel bearings?
Another symptom of bad wheel bearings is when your tires have a loud grinding noise coming from them. This is caused when the wheel bearings lose their lubricity and build up a lot of heat inside of them instead. It will almost be like hearing two pieces of metal grinding together.
Why do you need tapered wheel bearings in a car?
The regular wheels of cars and trucks will usually have tapered roller bearings in them. They have a cone shape which cuts down the friction while cornering as the thrust load is high. As you turn the car, there are various degrees to the angle of the wheels. With tapered roller bearings, they prevent grinding in the parts that are shifting.
Why do my wheel bearings sound like they are grinding?
This is caused when the wheel bearings lose their lubricity and build up a lot of heat inside of them instead. It will almost be like hearing two pieces of metal grinding together. Usually, you’ll only hear the sound coming from one wheel rather than all of them because of how the wheels wear out unevenly.