News and Information

NEWS CENTER

Company News

Product knowledge

Please note the following when using and installing wheel bearings

Published time:

2025-07-01

　　A worn or damaged wheel bearing or wheel hub unit can cause inappropriate and costly failures of your vehicle while driving, or even harm your safety. Please pay attention to the following matters in the use and installation of wheel bearings:
　　1. To maximize safety and reliability, it is recommended that you regularly check the wheel bearings regardless of the vehicle's age—pay attention to early warning signs of bearing wear: including any frictional noise during rotation or abnormal deceleration of the suspension combination wheel when turning.
For rear-wheel-drive vehicles, it is recommended to lubricate the front wheel bearings when the vehicle reaches 38,000 kilometers. Check the bearings and replace the oil seals when replacing the brake system.
　　2. If you hear a noise from the wheel bearing area, first, it is important to locate the source of the noise. There are many moving parts that may produce noise, or it may be some contact between rotating and non-rotating parts. If the noise is confirmed to be from the bearing, the bearing may be damaged and needs to be replaced.
　　3. Because the working conditions of the bearings on both sides caused by the front wheel hub are similar, it is recommended to replace them in pairs even if only one bearing is damaged.
　　4. Wheel bearings are sensitive and require the correct methods and tools in all cases. During storage and installation, the bearing components must not be damaged. Some bearings require high pressure to be pressed in, so special tools are required. Be sure to refer to the vehicle manufacturer's instructions.
　　5. When installing bearings, it should be done in a clean and tidy environment. Tiny particles entering the bearings will shorten their service life. Maintaining a clean environment when replacing bearings is very important. Do not strike the bearings with a hammer, and be careful not to drop the bearings on the ground (or similar mishandling). Before installation, the condition of the shaft and bearing seat should also be checked; even minor wear can lead to poor fit, resulting in premature bearing failure.
　　6. For wheel bearing units, do not attempt to disassemble the wheel bearing or adjust the seal of the wheel hub unit, otherwise, the seal may be damaged, allowing water or dust to enter. Even the seal and the inner ring raceway may be damaged, causing permanent failure of the bearing.
　　7. The seal of the bearing with an ABS device contains a magnetic thrust ring. This thrust ring must not be impacted, shocked, or collide with other magnetic fields. Remove them from the packaging box before installation and keep them away from magnetic fields, such as motors or power tools. When installing these bearings, observe the ABS warning needle on the instrument panel through road condition tests to adjust the bearing operation.
　　8. For wheel bearings with an ABS magnetic thrust ring, to determine which side the thrust ring is installed on, you can use a small object to approach the edge of the bearing, and the magnetic force generated by the bearing will attract it. During installation, point the side with the magnetic thrust ring inward, facing the ABS sensor. Note: Incorrect installation may cause the brake system to malfunction.
　　9. Many bearings are sealed and do not require lubrication throughout their lifespan. Other unsealed bearings, such as double-row tapered roller bearings, must be lubricated with grease during installation. Due to the different sizes of the bearing cavity, it is difficult to determine how much grease to add. The most important thing is to ensure that there is grease in the bearing. If there is too much grease, excess grease will seep out when the bearing rotates. General experience: During installation, the total amount of grease should account for 50% of the bearing clearance.
　　10. When installing the locknut, the torque varies greatly depending on the bearing type and bearing seat. Refer to the relevant instructions.

None

The composition and structure of an automobile driveshaft