What Are Wheel Bearings And How Do They Work
A wheel bearing assembly consists of rolling elements, such as hardened steel ball bearings or roller bearings, that roll on and around hardened steel bearing races. The wheel bearings support the front and rear axle, and all the weight of your car. Wheel bearings are made with a high-precision technique using extremely hard steel in order to withstand all the normal impacts that occur to the wheel and tire assembly as you drive along the road.
Patriot Bad Wheel Bearing Symptoms
Noises The most consistent sound that a bad wheel bearing is going to make is a low pitched grinding sound. This noise should be coming from the wheel or tire area.
Extra Play Does your Patriots steering feel as it should? If you have a bad wheel bearing, it could feel different. As the bearing wears down, it will allow the tire to move in directions it never was meant to. This effectively changes the wheel alignment repeatedly as you turn, accelerate, and brake.
Worse When Turning Wheel bearing noise will often get worse when you turn. This is particularly true when its the front bearings that have gone bad.
Louder With Speed Typically, bad wheel bearing noise will increase as you increase your Patriots speed.
Jeep Patriot Bad Wheel Bearings Symptoms Causes And Diagnosis
Wheel bearings in Jeep Patriot are one of the most crucial and stressed components. They cause the wheels to turn easily and at the same time absorb high radial and axial forces. Driving your Patriot with a defective wheel bearing can be dangerous, so you must act urgently for your safety and driving comfort.
The most common symptoms of a bad wheel bearing in Jeep Patriot are grinding or humming noise, knocking or clunking noise when cornering, shaking steering wheel, body vibration, uneven or abnormal tire wear, play in wheel, and vehicle pulls to one side when driving in a straight line.
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Will A Bad Wheel Bearing Affect Abs
Wheel bearings are safety-relevant components. They are responsible for stable driving behavior and, depending on the version, provide the wheel speed information for the anti-lock braking system. If the wheel bearing is defective, the anti-lock braking system can also be disabled. In the event of emergency braking, this has a negative effect on the braking distance and the steerability of the vehicle.
Grinding Or Humming Noise
Grinding or humming noise in the cabin of Patriot from the direction of the affected wheel is one of the earliest signs of a bad wheel bearing. The faster you drive your vehicle, the louder the humming noise gets. Damage to the wheel bearing is not easy to notice in the preliminary stages, as the noise is barely noticeable. In many cases, however, the noise builds up after a short time often after a few hundred miles.
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What Causes Bearings To Fail In Jeep Patriot
Even when driving your Patriot in a straight line, the bearings have to absorb high radial forces. The entire weight of the vehicle rests on the bearings. When driving, the speed creates additional forces. If a curve is then also driven through, axial forces occur. High impacts on the bearings also occur on uneven roads or when driving through potholes. Impacts of all kinds are much more damaging to bearings than the high loads. Therefore, all wheel bearings eventually fail. However, how soon they fail depends on driving habits. Other factors can also contribute to premature bearing failure on your Patriot, like driving with unbalanced tires or poor wheel alignment.
Tires Are Wearing Unevenly
If one of your front wheel bearings starts to fade and die, then youll end up with one wheel that isnt being used quite properly. That will lead to uneven wear on your front tires, with one looking more worn out than the other. Or at least worn in a different pattern.Its always a smart idea to pay attention to your tires. Give them a visual inspection every now and again, so that you can spot excess wearing, bubbles, low tire pressure, or uneven wear and tear. It can help you spot a big issue, like a front wheel bearing failure.
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When To Replace Wheel Bearings
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Growling or grinding noise from a wheel. Failed or failing wheel bearings make a very characteristic growling noise which will grow louder as the bearing wear progresses. If you believe the wheel bearing noise is coming from one side of the car, you can self-diagnosis your wheel bearing as you drive the car by loading and unloading vehicle weight You can do this by swerving from side-to-side. For example, if the noise markedly increases when you swerve to left, which shifts the vehicles weight to the right, then it often indicates the wheel bearing on the right is failing.
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Axial or radial play in the wheel or wheel hub. Should the wheel hub move up and down or in and out, the bearing may be worn.
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Vibration in the steering wheel or vehicle body and/or wandering. Vibration and lack of directional stability could be consequences of loose or worn out wheel bearings.
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Tire and wheel assembly does not turn smoothly. With the wheel jacked up, and the car not in gear, the wheel should rotate smoothly. Rough or inconsistent movement, which is often accompanied by noise, can signify damaged bearings. Be sure the brakes are not dragging as you perform this check.
How Long Will The Wheel Bearings Last On My Jeep
In theory, wheel bearings could last as long as your Jeep. Unlike oil changes or tire rotations, theres no standard maintenance schedule for replacing them. However, wheel bearings can be damaged if you hit a pothole, smack into a curb or bounce over a speed bump too fast.
If water, grit, salt or sand get to the bearings, the grease in the hub assembly gets contaminated. This will wear down the bearings, and they will eventually give out.
The best course of action? Find a reputable service technician for advice.
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Is It Safe To Drive With A Bad Wheel Bearing
The short answer is: Not for too long. Having bad wheel bearings can range from inconvenient and unpleasant to downright dangerous.
If you have bad wheel bearings, you might experience the vehicle pulling to one side, sloppy or loose steering, grinding and rattling noises, and uneven tire wear.
In the worst case scenario, the wheel could come off while you drive.
We recommend you consult the professionals and make a service appointment here on KBB.com.
Jeep Patriot: Bad Wheel Bearing Noise Diagnosis
If your Jeep Patriot is making a high pitched noise or hum, it could be a sign of a bad wheel bearing. There are several different vehicular components that can make a squeal or hum. Thats why it is important to know the other warning signs of a bad bearing before just going in and replacing it.
If you do have a bad bearing, replacing it is important. A bad wheel bearing can put stress on other components and they can begin to fail. Itll also cause the tires to wear unevenly .
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Say Goodbye To Your Wheel
If you ignore everything in this article, then heres what youll end up with: Three wheels. Losing a wheel is well past the point of being a warning sign. But if you dont pay attention to the warning signs, its exactly what will happen.As the front wheel bearings wear and tear, theyll eventually disintegrate, leaving you with something that cant support the wheel anymore. And then the wheel will head off on a new journey.
How Long Do The Wheel Bearings Last In Jeep Patriot
Under normal driving conditions, wheel bearings typically last around 100,000 miles. The mileage depends on the driving style and the quality of the wheel bearing. If you frequently drive your Patriot on bad roads with lots of potholes, drive over curbs with force or drive quickly around corners, the service life of the wheel bearings is significantly reduced.
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Jeep Patriot Wheel Bearing Noises
Any noise from a vehicle is bad news. The question is whether or not that noise is wheel bearings or something else.
When your brakes have worn really far they can start to make a squeaking sound. Its basically them begging to be replaced. If your brakes have worn to the point that they are grinding, youll feel a miserable grind when you hit them.
Most of the time, therell still be a light grind even when you arent braking. See Jeep Patriot brakes grinding for more info if you think this may be the problem.
Tires that are misaligned and have been allowed to wear unevenly can also cause a noise that is very similar to wheel bearing noise as well. So be cautious of that.
How Does A Wheel Bearing Work
A wheel bearing is part of the front and rear wheel hubs. In the front, the hub connects the wheel to the suspension’s steering knuckle. The wheel connects to the hub, and the hub spins smoothly inside the wheel bearing. This allows the weight of the vehicle to rest on the hub as it spins while maintaining as little surface contact as possible.
The wheel bearing is lubricated with grease in order to further reduce friction. Most vehicles feature sealed wheel bearings that encapsulate the ball bearings and the lubricant.
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Car Isnt Handling Quite Right
Look, I dont want to have to tell you this, because you should already know it. Pay attention to how your car feels on a daily basis, so that you know the moment it starts to feel abnormal.If one of the front wheel bearings begins to fail, the handling in your car will likely change. The handling will feel loose, as though the wheel isnt fully attached, because thats essentially whats happening as the bearing wears out and can no longer support the wheel. This can also result in the car pulling to the left or to the right when youre on a straight stretch.
Is It Safe To Drive With A Wheel Bearing Problem
No. Wheel bearing failure is usually gradual, although in some cases it starts immediately after the dramatic impact of the wheel and tire assembly with a deep pothole. Wheel bearings can sometimes make noise for quite some time before you experience a catastrophic failure that would result in complete separation of the wheel and tire assembly from the axle. Generally, the risk of sudden failure increases with the noise level. But strictly speaking, once the bearing has started to fail it is impossible to predict exactly when it will fail completely. So it should not continue to be driven. Were a failing bearing to seize or break while you are moving, you could experience loss of control of the vehicle. Once you receive a conclusive diagnostic that a wheel bearing has failed, replace the bearing promptly.
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Jeep Patriot Bad Wheel Bearing Diagnosis
Test Drive The best way to diagnose bearing noise in your Patriot is to take it for a drive. Youll be looking to hear the hum increase as the speed picks up.
Jack and Wiggle With your Patriot on jack stands, youll want to look and see if the wheel is wiggling at the bearing. If it is, thats proof positive that you need a new wheel bearing. If it does not wiggle, that does not automatically mean the wheel bearing is good.
You would also want to turn the tire and see if there is an audible noise coming from the bearing. Ive put a fantastic YouTube video on this from ChrisFix below. He does all of this. Check it out.
How Often Do Wheel Bearings Need Servicing Or Replacement
Most vehicles have sealed bearings that do not require maintenance. Sealed bearings can last 100,000 miles or more, and will need to be replaced once they go bad.
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.
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Premature Wheel Bearing Failure Due To Contamination
When the wheel bearing rotates, there is high friction. Therefore, the internal components must be lubricated with lubricants such as grease or oil to prevent overheating. The wheel bearings in Jeep Patriot are designed in such a way that they are absolutely maintenance-free. This is achieved with a grease filling that ensures adequate lubrication of the rolling elements over the entire service life of the wheel bearing.
Elaborately designed seals ensure that neither water nor dirt can enter the wheel bearing. But if the seals fail, water and dirt can enter inside the wheel bearing and contaminate the lubricant. These contaminants circulate throughout the grease and between the races and the bearings accelerating the wear rate. The increased heat may break down and eventually expel the lubricant, leading to premature failure of the bearing.
I Hear A Grinding Noise Coming From My Jeep
If you hear noises at the wheels, one explanation might be a need for a wheel bearing replacement at one or more wheels. The noises might be described as rattling, clicking, humming, growling, or squealing. It can be a real symphony of sound if youre not careful.
More than just noisy or bothersome, bad wheel bearings could also lead to real performance issues like inconsistent braking, spongy steering and handling, uneven tire wear and, in extreme cases, the wheels could fall off. No matter how much you know about cars, you dont want the wheels falling off, right?
Dont ignore the issue. Best to get it checked out by a trained service center.
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When Replacing Wheel Bearings Keep In Mind:
- If the car has a substantial number of miles on the failed bearing , it is a good idea to replace both bearings on the axle at the same time.
- Wheel bearing noise can be confused with tire noise from defective tires. In difficult cases, a mechanic will apply remote wireless microphones at all 4 wheel positions, and then drive the car while listening to a remote receiver, switching between wheel positions to pinpoint the location of the failed bearing.
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Knocking Or Clunking Noise When Cornering
At an advanced stage of internal deterioration, the defective wheel bearing can cause knocking or clunking noises, particularly when turning or cornering in your Jeep Patriot. However these noises can also occur due to faults in suspension or steering system components, therefore you should consider a bad wheel bearing if the vehicle presents other system as well, like humming or grinding noise and play in the wheel.
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Play In Wheel Bearing
You can also recognize a defective wheel bearing if there is too much play. Jack up your Jeep Patriot until the wheel can move freely. Then grab the wheel with both hands at the opposite sides and alternately press and pull. If the play is clearly noticeable and visible, then the wheel bearing is very likely defective. However, this technique requires some experience and a practiced grip.
Should I Replace Only The Defective Wheel Bearing In Patriot
In general, it is advisable to change the second bearing on the same axle even if there is only one defective wheel bearing in your Jeep Patriot. It can be assumed that both bearings were subjected to roughly the same stress and that the failure of the second bearing is imminent. If they are replaced at the same time, this saves time and money.
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Vibrating Car Or Shaking Steering Wheel
Heres something your steering wheel shouldnt do: Shake. If it does shake, youve got issues. That issue could be a busted front wheel bearing. If the bearings arent supporting the wheels, the steering system might vibrate, leading to a steering wheel thats as jittery as you after a third cup of coffee.
Is It Safe To Drive Patriot With A Bad Wheel Bearing
A wheel bearing is located within the wheel hub, and is responsible for connecting the wheel to the vehicle. If you continue driving your Patriot with a bad wheel bearing for months, in worse case scenario the wheel can lock up while driving or even fall off. Therefore a bad wheel bearing must be replaced as soon as possible when symptoms first appear.
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How Do Mechanics Replace Wheel Bearings
The complexity of wheel bearing replacement varies greatly depending on the vehicle make, model, year, the wheel position , and the drive type :
- On vehicles with unitized wheel bearing/hub assemblies, the brake rotor and caliper are removed.
- The large axle nut is removed, the axle is pushed back through the center of the unitized hub assembly, and three bolts holding the hub assembly to the steering knuckle are removed.
- The hub assembly is then removed from the knuckle. On installation of the new hub assembly to the knuckle, the bolts are torqued to the factory specification. In many cases, it is required to discard the old axle nut and replace with a new one. Special attention must be given to tightening the axle nut to the exact factory specification because over or under-tightening can damage the newly installed bearing. All YourMechanic professionals use calibrated torque wrenches on these critical fasteners.
- Finally, the brake rotor and brake caliper are re-attached, the wheel installed and the car is road tested.
- On vehicles where the wheel bearing is pressed into a cavity within the steering knuckle, the steering knuckle must be removed from the vehicle in order to press out the old bearing and press in the new bearing.
- On some vehicles, the wheel bearing is pressed onto an axle shaft and thus the axle must be extracted from the axle carrier. This will apply to certain trucks.
