Servicing Your Wheel Bearings

On a rear-wheel drive car, the front wheel bearings should be serviced every 30,000 miles or whenever the front brake rotors are removed for brake servicing. A serviced wheel bearing has been disassembled, cleaned, inspected, had worn components replaced, repacked with new grease, and adjusted. Some wheel bearings have grease fittings or are factory sealed and cannot be lubricated. The rear wheel bearings on a front-wheel drive car would be serviced at a similar interval.

Because of the special tools and skill required to repack wheel bearings or adjust their fit, and because incorrect servicing can adversely impact driving safety, wheel bearings should be cleaned, lubricated (repacked), or adjusted by a professional automotive technician.

On rear-wheel drive car, the rear wheel bearings are usually factory set and sealed. If so, they do not require maintenance or adjustment. They are usually in the axle housing and are lubricated by differential oil instead.

Similarly, on a front-wheel drive car, the front wheel bearings are usually factory set and sealed. If so, they do not require maintenance or adjustment.

SYSTEMS
WHEEL BEARINGS
INSPECTING YOUR WHEEL BEARINGS
CORRECT OPERATION