Wheel bearings often go overlooked but have an incredibly important job to perform. Wheel bearings are an integral component of your truck, and when one begins to fail, other problems begin to arise. At Westerville Automotive in Westerville, we want you to have the ability to recognize a problem before it turns into a bigger one. Here’s what to look out for.
Wheel bearings bear the entire weight of your truck; these are the bearings that are connected to the wheels through the hub, and that the entire truck and trailer rides on. Obviously, this makes them prone to wear, and also incredibly important to the operation of your truck. A bad wheel bearing will cause steering issues and floaties on the road, improper wheel alignment, very excessive wear on tires (typically on the inside,) extreme heat production which can damage parts and sensors around it, reduced fuel efficiency, and in the worst-case scenario, a wheel can detach from the truck altogether.
Wheel bearings are especially problematic in commercial vehicles. First, these vehicles tend to be high mileage, and bearings all have a lifespan. In addition, commercial trucks are extremely heavy and have many more bearings than an average passenger vehicle since there’s one for each wheel. A failing bearing can be difficult to diagnose since there are so many wheels, and the truck itself is so loud it’s difficult to hear the telltale roar of a bearing deteriorating.
Keep an eye out for steering issues, vibrations at certain speeds, and for tires that are wearing prematurely on the inner tread. If you are experiencing bearing issues, want your truck inspected for bearing issues, or have any other maintenance or repair needs, look no further than our team of expert mechanics.
Our technicians have the knowledge and equipment necessary to keep your truck reliably on the road for years to come. For the best fleet and commercial truck service shop in Westerville, call or stop by Westerville Automotive today.
