How to Handle a Failed Front Wheel Bearing in your Jaguar While Driving

Jaguars are one of the most reliable vehicles on the road today. They have excellent performance and mileage, and are enjoyable to drive. So, if you notice a hum or a loose steering wheel when you’re driving, then it could be an issue with the wheel bearings.

What are front wheel bearings?

Wheel bearings are meant to reduce friction when the wheel spins. They are a set of small, steel balls placed in a metal ring. The balls roll between two smooth rings of metal. This ring is at the center of the wheels of your Jaguar, in something called a hub.

Bearings fit tightly within a hub, riding on the axle shaft. Rolling around utilizing ball bearings requires less friction than sliding does, so they make motion more efficient for the wheel. It’s kind of like our shoulder and hip joints, which are also ball joints. Grease is added to keep the rotation seamless and smooth. Unfortunately, these can wear out over time.

How do you know if your bearings are failing?

The following are signs that your wheel bearings need an inspection. The most common symptom is an excessive growling when driving. This tone changes at varying speeds and when turning corners. You might even be able to identify which side the issue is on just from how the sound changes when turning. It may be a constant drone, a clicking noise or even a grinding sound.

Another sign drivers often notice is that their steering wheel feels like it’s too loose. This can also be a sign of an issue with the wheel bearings. Additionally, the steering wheel may feel like it’s vibrating.

Why do bearings fail?

There are several reasons the wheel bearings may be showing signs of wear and tear. It could be the result of an incorrect alignment from poor installation. Collisions, accidents, or impacts to the side of your car may also cause problems.

The most common reason front wheel bearings fail is because the bearing seal is damaged and/or leaking. When this happens, grease leaks out and water or grit gets in. This degrades the metal balls and can cause a gritting sound as the wheel rotates.

How do you handle a failed wheel bearing?

First of all, do not attempt to force your car to keep driving with the failed bearing. The goal is to get it replaced immediately. You don’t want to continue driving it with a problem that involves steering. If you wish to drive it to a service center, here are some tips on how to drive safely.

Check if any tires are out of balance to ensure you’re not in a risk of flipping over. Drive at slower speeds in an attempt to place less heat on the bearings so there’s less grinding. Driving too roughly or too fast may cause the car to spin out.

It’s also not safe to drive for too long like this as the bearing can wear down and then seize and lock the axle. This is why you want to make sure the tires don’t look or feel off balance.

Ideally, you should be getting routine maintenance on your vehicle at regular intervals where they’ll be able to spot any issues before they get worse.

European Motor Cars

Failed wheel bearings may not seem like an important detail, but things can get really bad really fast. Don’t wait. Bring your Jaguar to European Motor Cars right away.  Our specialized technicians know how to properly align bearings so that it won’t accelerate the wear and tear of the part. They will use out state-of-the-art machinery to perform quality repair and maintenance.

Bearings need to be disassembled, cleaned, and greased. They need to be replaced properly. Our trusted mechanics have all the experience needed to take the best care possible of your Jaguar.

We offer our services to clients all over southern Nevada, including Summerlin, Spring Valley, and Las Vegas. Our unrivaled customer care is supplemented with shuttle rides and loaner cars to make your wait here even more pleasant. We care for our customers and we care for your cars. Don’t wait for things to get worse. Call or drop by European Motor Cars today.