What is a wheel hub and how does it work? When should a wheel bearing be replaced?

If you want your car to be safe, you need to check all its parts regularly. Regular replacement of those that wear the most is the responsibility of every driver. One component to pay attention to is the wheel hub.. It can wear very intensively, so you can't forget about it during an inspection by your mechanic. What are wheel hubs in a car? Where are they located and how do you know that something is wrong with them? After reading the article, you will learn a lot more about this part of your car!

Wheel hub - what is it?

The bearing and hub are necessary for the movement of the wheel. Therefore, the wheel hub, which we will describe, is in every car. This is a part mounted on a shaft or axle, covering this part of the wheel. In most modern car models, the hub is combined with a bearing. However, sometimes there are hubs that are only pressed into them. It is in this situation that they can be exchanged separately. If they are installed permanently, you will need to replace the entire bearing if the component simply wears out while riding.

Hub and wheel bearing in a car - how is it used?

After installing the hub and bearing on the wheel, they are screwed behind the central cover. This is no ordinary item! It must be additionally fixed from spontaneous unscrewing. If all components are in good condition and there are no old or damaged parts, the wheels should stick well to the car. It is worth noting that a similar design is one in which the wheels are combined with a brake drum.

Wheel hub cleaning - when should it be done?

Cleaning the hub is not something you need to do every day. In fact, your mechanic should take care of it. By the way, it's worth cleaning it up:

• tire replacement;
• disk replacement.

Remember that cleaning the hub is an activity that can help during service work. If you notice corrosion, dirt, or other damage when you change your winter tires, you may need to clean the hub. This should also be done when replacing disks. The wheel hub, like everything else, should be clean afterwards.

Car hub - how to clean?

The wheel hub can be cleaned mechanically. First of all, you need to wipe the places where corrosion has appeared. It is rust that is usually the biggest disaster of this element of the car, since it significantly weakens the durability of the metal. If you get rid of corrosion, you will take care of the life of the hub. You can get these places with a file and wire brushes. For the bushing, avoid any lubricants or cosmetics. It can only hurt! Also, do not completely trust products whose task is to remove rust. Often they don't work hard enough to effectively get rid of it completely.

Damaged hub - symptoms indicating this

Do you hear more noise than usual while driving? Possibly damaged wheel hub. The roar will come from this element. Noise generally increases as your vehicle speed increases. Knocking and metallic noise can also indicate a bad hub. In this situation, you can put the car on a jack, and then put pressure on the wheel. It should be played with another signal that will tell you that something bad can happen to the hub.

Bent wheel hub - symptoms

When a wheel hub starts to warp and bend, it's usually a sign that it's already very bad. Such a bearing will most likely need to be replaced as soon as possible because, among other things, it makes driving difficult (especially when cornering). If you think this description applies to your vehicle, have the part replaced by a mechanic as soon as possible. Does this mean that the fault is related to driving style? Not necessarily, because the entire bearing, along with the hub, simply wears out while riding. Sometimes they are also absorbed by rust, especially if the car is not in the garage.

Wheel hub cover - take care of your car

Do you want your car to work for a long time? A wheel hub cap would be a great idea. By doing this, you will limit the flow of air and moisture, and therefore reduce the risk that the hub will quickly become covered with rust. Be sure to check if it fits your car model before purchasing. The size of the drive wheels may vary slightly depending on the model. You will have to pay about 150-40 euros for such a cover, the price depends, among other things, on the car model, its popularity, year of manufacture and cost. For this reason, it is worth choosing cars whose parts are relatively inexpensive.

Wheel hub - how much does it cost to replace?

How much does it cost to replace a wheel hub? In some workshops, you will have to pay around 6 euros per piece. However, sometimes this cost can reach up to 50 euros at a car shop, depending on the manufacturer of the auto parts. You must remember that the wheel hub must be replaced every 100 km. km. The bushing itself costs from 25 PLN to several hundred PLN, depending on the brand of the car. In the case of a cover, a lot also depends on the model of the car. If you have the opportunity, ask your mechanic to select the correct product. This ensures that everything will fit together.

The hub and wheel bearing are things to keep in mind before they wear out. Regular replacement after about 100 miles should suffice. However, be sure to check that this part is not rusty. When corrosion occurs, problems with a comfortable ride can occur, up to a car breakdown. If you notice any of the symptoms mentioned in the text, do not underestimate them and consult a mechanic.