Wheel Bearings and Seals

Is a wheel humming as your speed increases, or can you feel play when you rock the tyre? This category contains wheel bearings, bearing kits with seals and complete hubs for ATVs and cars – for you who want to replace worn parts or upgrade as part of a project.

What bearings, seals and hubs do

The wheel bearing carries the vehicle's weight and lets the wheel turn with low friction, while the seal keeps water, mud and dirt out and the grease in. A worn bearing typically shows up as a hum that changes with speed or in corners, or as play in the wheel. Under wheel bearings you will find individual bearings and bearing kits with seals, e.g. from Pivot Works, QuadBoss and EPI. Complete hub assemblies combine several parts in one unit, e.g. Ford Racing's hub kit for the Mustang with ARP bolts.

How to choose the right bearing kit

Start with model, year and engine size, and check whether the kit is for the front or rear wheels – many kits are made specifically for one axle. Also consider:

• Single bearing or kit: A kit with seals means you don't have to reuse old, hardened seals.
• Bearing or complete hub: A hub assembly can be the obvious choice if the hub itself is worn or damaged.
• Riding conditions: With a lot of riding in water and mud, the seal becomes crucial to the bearing's service life.

For four-wheel-drive vehicles there are also locking hubs, e.g. Ford Racing Super Duty Warn Locking Hubs, which work together with the transfer case.

Installation and maintenance

Bearings are typically pressed in and out with suitable tools. Only press on the bearing race that is being fitted – force through the balls can damage the bearing already during installation. Follow the manufacturer's torque specification, and use new seals every time you replace a bearing. After driving through deep water, it can pay to check for play and noise. If it still hums after a bearing replacement, the cause may lie elsewhere, e.g. in the differential or the driveshaft.

Frequently asked questions

Should I replace the wheel bearings on both sides at the same time?

It is not a requirement, but bearings on the same axle have typically covered the same distance. If you replace both at once, you save an extra disassembly and avoid the other bearing soon starting to hum.

How can I tell a bad wheel bearing from tyre noise?

Bearing noise typically changes when the load shifts in corners, while tyre noise more often follows the road surface. Lift the wheel, spin it, and rock it at the top and bottom – play or rough running points to the bearing.

Can I reuse the old seals?

This is typically not recommended. A seal can be damaged during removal, and the rubber hardens with age. A leaking seal lets water and dirt in, so a new bearing can wear out quickly.

Does a new hub assembly or locking hub need to be approved for inspection?

It depends on the product and the vehicle. Check the information for the specific part number, and ask the inspection centre if in doubt before fitting parts that change the wheel suspension.