What is a Wheel Bearing?
The greased bearing that lets your wheel spin smoothly for thousands of miles.
Simplified animation — not to scale.
In plain English
A wheel bearing is a set of precision-ground steel balls or rollers packed in grease that sit between the wheel hub and the axle. It's what lets the wheel spin freely while supporting the full weight of the car.
"Like the ball bearings inside skateboard wheels — when they're smooth you roll forever, when they're dry you grind to a halt."
How it works
Sealed for life and lubricated with grease, a wheel bearing should last 100,000+ miles. Once water gets past the seal — usually after kerb hits, deep potholes or jet-washing — the grease washes out, the rollers rust and you'll hear a growling noise that gets worse with speed and load.
Signs of trouble
- ⚠Humming or growling that gets louder with speed
- ⚠Noise changes pitch when you turn left vs right
- ⚠A clicking or grinding from one wheel
- ⚠Slight play when rocking the wheel by hand (jacked up)
- ⚠ABS warning light (some bearings have a built-in sensor ring)
£180–£400 fitted per wheel
Always get a written quote. Prices vary by car, region, and parts brand.