Hearing strange noises from your wheels? Feeling more vibration in the steering wheel than usual while driving? These could be signs that your wheel hub assembly is going bad. It’s one of those parts you probably never think about until something goes wrong.
Let’s look at the symptoms of wheel hub failure in more detail since catching it early can save you from a major headache. We’ll also go over average repair costs so you know what to expect.
What is a Wheel Hub?
A wheel hub is the central mounting point where your wheel attaches to your vehicle. The hub contains bearings that allow the wheel to spin freely while supporting the vehicle’s weight and handling forces from braking, accelerating, and turning.
Modern vehicles typically use what’s called a hub assembly or hub bearing assembly. This is a pre-packed, sealed unit that contains both the hub and bearings. It bolts to your vehicle’s steering knuckle or suspension components and has a splined or bolt pattern center where the wheel attaches.
Each wheel on your vehicle has its own hub assembly. On front-wheel drive vehicles, the front hubs also contain a splined center section that connects to the CV axle, allowing power from the transmission to turn the wheels. The rear hubs on these vehicles are typically simpler since they only need to allow the wheels to spin freely.
Wheel Hub vs Wheel Bearing
Many people confuse wheel hubs and wheel bearings or think they’re the same thing. While they work together as a unit, they have different functions.
- The wheel hub is the mounting point that your wheel bolts onto the vehicle. It contains mounting points for the brake rotor and has either bolt holes or studs where your wheel attaches.
- The wheel bearing sits inside the hub and allows it to rotate smoothly while handling the loads from driving.
On older vehicles, wheel bearings were separate components that could be replaced independently of the hub. They required periodic maintenance including cleaning and repacking with grease.
However, most modern vehicles use sealed hub assemblies where the hub and bearings are combined into one unit. These sealed units don’t require maintenance but must be replaced as a complete assembly when they fail.
When diagnosing an issue, the symptoms of a bad wheel bearing and a bad hub are often identical since they’re part of the same assembly. That’s the reason why repair shops will typically replace the entire hub assembly rather than just the bearing.
See Also: Lug Nuts vs Lug Bolts
Signs of a Bad Wheel Hub Assembly
1) Noise
The most common symptom of a failing wheel hub is unusual noise from your wheels. You’ll typically hear a humming or growling sound that gets louder as you increase speed.
The pitch or volume of this noise often changes when you turn. For instance, a bad front driver’s side hub usually makes more noise during right turns and less during left turns.
Some drivers describe hearing a grinding sound, particularly during turns. In serious cases, you might hear clicking or popping noises. These sounds happen because the bearings inside the hub aren’t allowing the wheel to spin smoothly anymore.
2) Vibration
When a hub assembly begins to fail, you’ll often feel vibrations through different parts of your vehicle. In most cases, you’ll first notice it through your steering wheel, especially at highway speeds. Some drivers also report feeling vibrations through the floor of the vehicle or their seat.
These vibrations usually get stronger the faster you drive. You may also notice that they change or become more pronounced when turning. This is also because the hub bearing are preventing the wheel from spinning evenly, creating an imbalance you can feel.
3) Loose Steering or Play in the Wheel
As your wheel hub wears out, many drivers start noticing that their steering feels “off” and not as precise as it used to. The car will tend to wander a bit more on the highway, requiring more frequent corrections to keep it straight, sort of like a bad alignment.
The steering wheel may also feel loose or sloppy, especially during turns. These specific symptoms often get worse over time as the hub continues to deteriorate and they may get to a point for it’s simply not safe to continue driving.
See Also: Steering Wheel Not Straight? (3 Common Causes)
4) Uneven Tire Wear
The excessive movement of a wheel due to a failing wheel hub often results in uneven tire wear. Your tire could start developing a scalloped or cupped pattern, where sections of the tire are more worn than others. Sometimes the inside or outside edge of the tire will wear faster than the rest.
These unnatural wear patterns occur because a bad hub lets the wheel wobble slightly while driving. Even a tiny amount of wobble can cause the tire to contact the road unevenly.
If you notice unusual tire wear patterns, especially on just one wheel, have your wheel hub checked (see below for a simple test you can do). This also helps rule out alignment issues which almost always cause uneven tire wear.
5) ABS Warning Light
While not exactly a common symptom of failure, a severely worn wheel hub can trigger your ABS warning light. This happens because modern vehicles use the wheel hub to house a speed sensor that sends data to your ABS system. Once the hub has significant wear or damage, the sensor may start reading incorrectly, causing your ABS light to illuminate.
If the warning light does come on, it might flash intermittently at first. As the hub continues to worsen, the light may stay on permanently. Some vehicles might also display a traction control warning since these systems rely on the same wheel speed sensors.
Wheel Hub Replacement Cost
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The cost to replace a wheel hub assembly is going to vary depending on your vehicle make and model, but typically ranges from $250 to $500 per hub. Higher-end vehicles or those requiring special tools can cost more.
Parts usually run between $100 to $300. There are cheaper options available (some as low as $40), but it’s best to avoid brands unknown brands or those with little to no track record.
Like any other car part, expect to pay more for OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) parts versus aftermarket options. While dealerships will almost always use OEM parts, confirm with the shop on what they’ll be using if you’re comparing multiple quotes.
Labor costs average $150 to $200 per hub, as most shops charge for 1-2 hours of work. The job is relatively straightforward on most vehicles, though rusty bolts or difficult access can increase labor time. Some vehicles require special tools or additional work, like removing the steering knuckle or pressing the hub out, which can add to the cost.
If you have some car repair experience, you can save quite a bit on labor costs. However, you’ll need some specialty tools (which can often be borrowed for free from local auto parts stores) and a good understanding of suspension components.
Many DIYers have successfully replaced their own wheel hubs, but if you’re unsure about any step in the process, it’s best to leave it to a professional.
Read Also: Average Wheel Bearing Replacement Cost
How to Check for a Bad Wheel Hub
If you suspect a wheel hub or bearing problem, you can perform a simple test at home.
- First, park on level ground and lift the suspected corner with a floor jack until the tire is off the ground.
- Don’t rely solely on a jack, always have a backup for safety. A jack stand is the obvious choice but even laying the wheel flat under the car’s frame can prevent disaster if the jack fails.
- Grab the tire at the 12 and 6 o’clock positions and try to rock it back and forth.
- A good hub should have virtually no play. If you can feel movement, this likely indicates the hub assembly needs replacement.
For the most accurate test, it’s best to have both wheels of the same axle off the ground (supported by jack stands), as having one wheel still touching the ground can mask some movement. However, you can often detect significant hub play even with just one corner lifted.
This test can help confirm your suspicions, but remember that not all bad hubs will show play when checked this way. If you’re experiencing other symptoms but don’t feel any play, it’s still worth having a professional inspection.
What Causes Wheel Hub Failure?
- Normal Wear and Tear: Like any moving part, wheel hubs eventually wear out from normal use. Most hub assemblies last anywhere from 80,000 to 150,000 miles depending on driving conditions and vehicle type. The bearings inside gradually wear down over time, leading to increasing play and noise.
- Environmental Damage: Water and road salt are major contributors to hub failure. When water gets past the hub’s seals, it washes away the grease inside and causes corrosion. This is why vehicles in coastal areas or those with heavy winter road salt use often experience hub problems sooner than those in drier climates.
- Physical Damage: Impact damage from hitting potholes or curbs can harm wheel hubs. These impacts put extreme stress on the bearings inside the hub assembly. While the damage might not be immediately noticeable, it can cause the hub to wear out faster over time.
- Poor Alignment and Balance: When your wheels aren’t properly balanced or aligned, it puts extra stress on the hub assembly. The same goes for oversized wheels and tires. While they might look great, they can put additional strain on your wheel hubs, leading to premature failure.
- Wheel Spacers: While spacers may improve appearance and handling, they also increase the leverage on your wheel hub assembly by moving the wheel further away from its designed mounting position. This added stress can cause the bearings inside the hub to wear out faster than normal. Thicker spacers cause more strain than thinner ones.
- Manufacturing Defects: In some cases, manufacturing defects can cause early hub failure. These defects might lead to premature wear or sudden failure, though this is relatively rare with quality parts from reputable manufacturers.
Related: 5 Common Causes of Wheel Bearing Failure
Can You Drive With a Bad Wheel Hub?
No, you should not continue driving with a bad wheel hub. While it’s technically possible in many cases (especially the early stages), it’s simply not a good idea.
A severely worn hub can allow excessive wheel movement, which affects your ability to control the vehicle. This becomes especially dangerous during emergency maneuvers or bad weather conditions. In extreme cases, a completely broken hub could allow the wheel to separate from the vehicle.
The severity of the symptoms above can help you determine how urgently you need repairs:
If you just hear a slight humming noise that doesn’t change much with speed, you likely have some time to plan the repair. However, if you’re experiencing significant vibration, steering problems, or loud grinding noises, you should get it fixed ASAP.
If you notice the wheel has obvious play when checked by hand, or if the noise and vibration are severe, stop driving the vehicle immediately. The risk of complete failure is too high, and the repair cost will be much less than dealing with an accident or additional damage to your vehicle.
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