Wheel Bearings Service Video

Wheel bearings sit inside each hub, allowing smooth rotation while supporting the vehicle's weight and handling side loads during turns. This video shows where the wheel bearing is located and compares a healthy hub assembly with a failed one. It also explains the noises and looseness that can indicate a failing wheel bearing. Drivers of higher-mileage sedans, trucks, and SUVs are the most common candidates for this work.

Inside a modern sealed hub assembly, hardened steel balls or tapered rollers move between inner and outer races. The bearings are packed with grease and protected by a seal that keeps water and road debris out. Over time, loads and heat degrade bearing grease and pit the races. A damaged seal allows moisture in, accelerating wear and causing looseness or roughness.

Most passenger vehicles today use a unitized hub assembly, which is replaced as a single bolt-on unit rather than repacked. A steady hum or growl that changes with speed often indicates a failing wheel bearing, especially when turning increases the load on the damaged side. Looseness in the wheel when rocked by hand, uneven tire wear, or a subtle wobble at highway speed all point the same direction.

Winter road salt in Cape Girardeau can seep through a damaged hub seal and corrode the bearing races, causing premature wear. Once a bearing starts making noise, we typically recommend a wheel alignment  after replacing the hub to help protect the new bearing and tires.

At Parks Automotive, we start by lifting the wheel off the ground and checking for looseness at the 12 and 6 o'clock positions. We then spin the wheel and use a stethoscope to listen for unusual noises coming from the hub. From there, we determine whether the wheel bearing has failed or if a nearby component is causing the problem. We also handle hub replacement in-house as part of our full range of suspension, steering, and wheel services.

We start by removing the brake caliper and rotor, then unbolt the old hub assembly from the steering knuckle. After cleaning the mounting surface, we install the new hub, torque it to the manufacturer's specifications, and reassemble the components. On vehicles with ABS, the wheel speed sensor is either integrated into the hub or transferred over, and we verify the signal before the vehicle leaves the bay.

Call Parks Automotive at (573) 335-2599 to have a suspect bearing checked, or find your Cape Girardeau car care team online. Drivers from Jackson and Scott City bring their vehicles to us for this work as part of routine suspension service.