Wheel Bearing Replacement Cost

The wheel is probably one of the greatest technological innovations, that has driven human civilization's progress. After discovery of fire, wheel must rate as the next best discovery. The techniques for reducing the friction between a wheel and its axle have been evolving over the years, as wheels developed from wooden carriage wheels to today's car wheels. Wheel bearing is the result of years of research, aimed at reducing the axle-wheel friction. They are devices, which enable the wheels to rotate. Through this Buzzle article, I present a rough estimate of average replacement cost and also warn you about the causes which may lead to wheel bearing wear and tear and eventual replacement.

How Does a Car Wheel Bearing Work?

Wheel bearings are car parts that bear the brunt of friction between the wheel axle and the wheel, so that, the wheel rotation is smooth. Wheels rotate at a very rapid pace and if there wasn't for a bearing, it would be a very bumpy ride indeed! They are a buffer between a metal to metal contact surface, which prolongs the life of the axle and the wheel. Friction and heat are the bane of moving machine parts in contact with each other. A large part of design effort goes in to reducing this damaging friction through lubrication and buffers like bearings. The bearing is a slotted disk with ball bearings placed inside, which roll and enable the movement of the wheel while reducing friction. It's absolutely essential, that you keep the bearing greased and repacked regularly. They are like the bone cushioning between our knee joints, they keep the movement smooth. The greasing job could be done once every two years or after a 23,000 mile running of the vehicle. Since, there are two pair of wheels (two front and two rear), this task is quadrupled. If you hear a roaring or screeching sound when the car wheels are rolling, it's time to get the bearings checked out! Do not ignore the replacement, as it may lead to major car repairs later.

Causes of Failure

The probability of wheel bearing failure depends on the frequency of maintenance jobs and use of the vehicle. Here are the major causes of failure, which may eventually lead you to bear the brunt of the replacement estimate.

• One prime reason is negligence in bearing installation and maintenance.
• Lubricant contamination.
• Either too little or unnecessarily high lubricant application, is another reason for failure.
• Substandard quality of grease used.

Here are the signs that you should look out for that indicate imminent failure:

• A sudden increase in vehicle vibration.
• A screeching rolling sound.
• Smoke around the wheels and lubricant leakage signs.

Cost Breakdown
Quoting one replacement estimate would be difficult, as it varies from car to car. Other than that, in one car, there are two types of bearings: one front and one rear bearing. So, I will quote the overall cost range, irrespective of car model type or front/rare distinction. In the course of my research, as I went through the prices of new bearings, I realized, that they can range anywhere from $40 to $400 for a single piece, depending on your car model. The replacement procedure is not that simple and about an hour of labor is involved in replacing it. The labor cost is usually $70 to $150. Ergo, the cost of replacement, along with labor involved would be in the range of $110 to $550.

Jobs like replacement are inevitable, when the incumbent bearings are worn out. Delay will cost you even more.