Posted: 02/25/2022
Have you looked at your vehicle’s wheel hubs lately? If not, you might want to give them a quick once-over. A truck or car's wheel hubs play multiple functions in ensuring that your car rolls smoothly and safely. So how do you tell whether your wheel hub assembly is in need of replacement? Here are some tips to help you decide.
One of the first signs that there might be something amiss with your wheel hub assembly is the sound it makes. These sounds will appear when the car is in motion, and are most apparent at higher speeds, much in the same way you can tell a radiator is broken by excess heat at high speeds. A clicking noise when making sharp turns can indicate a bad wheel assembly, especially if it's a rhythmic clicking noise. Also, keep an ear out for knocking, grinding or clunking. While not always a sign of bad wheel hubs, as they could also indicate problems with struts or similar structural parts they can be a strong indicator that your auto wheel hubs will need a replacement soon.
Because the wheel hub assembly is a combination of interlocking parts (like ball bearings and a spindle), a failure in one of those parts will cause problems with the car or truck's feel when you drive it. If the wheel vibrates, wobbles, or shudders when going a consistent speed, it might be a bad wheel hub assembly on the vehicle. If you notice the steering doesn’t work as well as it did before, or if it pulls to one side even without braking, these are additional signs that the wheel hubs need to be examined, and most likely replaced, by a professional technician.
You might see the phrase “wheel hub” and think we’re just talking about the piece of metal or plastic that fits over the hub. While those are important to the look of your car, they are not nearly as important as the hub itself. You may be thinking of the wheel's hubcap, which covers the wheel hub on a car. Don’t worry, your technician knows the difference.
