Inspecting Your Wheel Bearings
*MEDIUM*
You should occasionally inspect your wheel bearings as follows:
- Park the vehicle on level ground with the engine OFF, the parking brake engaged, and the transmission in PARK (for automatic) or REVERSE (for manual).
- If your car has rear-wheel drive, elevate the vehicle front end on safety stands. Wheel ramps cannot be used because all weight must be removed from the tires. Conversely, if your car has front-wheel drive, elevate the vehicle rear end on safety stands. Again, do not use ramps.
- Grab each raised tire by the sides (treads) and try to quickly slide the tires in and out on the spindle. There should be no movement or clicking noise. If a tire is loose or a clicking noise is heard, the inner or outer wheel bearing most likely needs service.
- Spin each tire forward and then backward. The tires should rotate quietly without any resistance (assuming brake pads are correctly adjusted). If there is some play, resistance, grinding or clanking noise, the bearings are worn or out of adjustment. This condition must be fixed immediately.
- Remove the safety stands. Have the bearings adjusted or repaired if necessary.
SYSTEMS
WHEEL BEARINGS
PROPER CARE
SERVICING YOUR WHEEL BEARINGS