Sealed Wheel Bearing Hub Assemblies

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Sealed Wheel Bearing Hub Assemblies Have Become Standard

In four-wheel, all-wheel and front-wheel drive applications, the wheel bearing hub assembly is made with two opposing bearings, and with the inner bearing races pressed onto a splined hub that slips over the splined axle shaft.

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By Gary Goms
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Sealed wheel bearing hub assemblies have become standard equipment on the majority passenger vehicles and light-duty trucks because they operate with zero end-play, which reduces rotating friction on the brakes and also because they require no periodic adjustment and lubrication. In four-wheel, all-wheel and front-wheel drive applications, the wheel bearing hub assembly is made with two opposing bearings, and with the inner bearing races pressed onto a splined hub that slips over the splined axle shaft.

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As this example illustrates, wheel bearing hubs live in a harsh environment of dirt, water and rust. The ABS wheel-speed sensor is attached at the 10 o’clock position.Non-driving hubs simply mount to the axle or suspension knuckle with the wheel bolted to the inner spindle of the hub. Since some wheel bearing hub assemblies have the anti-locking brake wheel speed sensor built as an integral part of the hub, the hub must be replaced if the wheel speed sensor fails.

In most applications, a wheel bearing hub will last through the normal service life of a vehicle. On the other hand, wheel bearing hub assemblies usually begin to fail after the vehicle has been exposed to deep, muddy water encountered in mountain streams or flooded intersections. The first indications of a worn bearing hub assembly are ticking or grinding noises that increase in frequency with vehicle speed. In most cases, turning a sharp corner in one direction or another will increase the noise level of a defective wheel bearing. Wear in the wheel bearing can be such that the anti-lock braking (ABS) reluctor will contact the ABS wheel speed sensor, which will cause a C0-series diagnostic trouble code to be stored in the ABS module and the orange ABS warning light to illuminate.

Bearing Hub Inspections
As mentioned above, modern wheel bearing hub assemblies are designed to operate with zero end-play in the bearings. A worn bearing can therefore be detected by placing a vehicle on a lift and grasping the wheel at the 12 o’clock and 6 o’clock positions. If looseness in the wheel bearings is detected, the hub should be replaced. Since the wheel bearings are operated in an unloaded position when the vehicle is suspended on a chassis lift, it’s difficult to locate bearing noises with the engine running and transmission engaged. In some cases, a set of electronic microphones or “ears” designed to locate chassis noises can help pinpoint the defective bearing. But, even when the defective bearing is located, it’s still best to sell wheel bearing hubs in axle sets because both tend to wear at the same rate.

Installation Tips
Wheel bearing hub assemblies fit into a precisely machined recess in the steering knuckle. The hub assembly is then held in place by specially hardened bolts. Unfortunately, bearing hub assemblies tend to rust in place when continuously exposed to water or road salt and can therefore become very difficult to remove. In any case, applying a professional grade penetrating oil and using some judicious hammer work to loosen the old bearing hub will work most of the time. If the bearing hub is installed in an aluminum steering knuckle, heating the knuckle with a hot air gun can help loosen the steel hub from the aluminum knuckle. In any case, never heat suspension components with an acetylene or propane welding torch since doing so might weaken the knuckle.

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Customer Service: How It’s Done

Customer service should be your number one priority, and it all starts with the greeting.

Eric Garbe
By Eric Garbe
Eric Garbe is a graduate of Columbus State Community College with a degree in Automotive Maintenance Technology. He has extensive independent and dealership field experience as a technician and shop owner and is an ASE Certified Master Technician and former Adjunct Automotive Professor. He has been professionally writing automotive technical articles and documents for many years and in his free time enjoys restoring old cars and creating custom interiors and upholstery.
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This is always an important topic to discuss, because I consider excellent customer service one of the most important tools you can have to earn trust, respect and repeat business from the customers that come through your door. Whether that customer is do-it-yourselfer from across town or the professional repair shop across the street, your business depends on a solid relationship.It’s a subject that I am passionate about, and it’s one that many people are losing touch with. Whether you are communicating to someone in person, on the phone or using some type of social media, good customer service and bad can both exist. You can’t afford the latter, so this is the first in a series of topics which can and should be shared from the front of the shop to the back. No matter which role you hold, you represent the shop and yourself. Customer service should be your number one priority.First on the list is the greeting. From the second a customer walks in the door, they need to know you appreciate them coming in and how important they are to your business. First impressions are everything and here’s the correct way to do it each and every time: look them directly in the eye, smile and say hello!Of course, you can say “Good morning” or “Welcome to Joe’s Autocare,” but it should be a formal greeting and the most important thing is that you have smiled, looked them in the eye and recognized that they have walked through the door.You should always retain a formal greeting until you are on a first-name basis with a customer. Only once you have established that level of relationship is it OK to use the less formal greeting of “Hi,” followed by the person’s name.This greeting does more than just indicate respect and appreciation for someone walking through the door. Most likely there are customers both new and old who are in earshot of your conversation. For newer customers, this continues to build rapport and reinforce their positive view of your shop; they see that you demonstrate respect and treat everyone in the same manner. For repeat customers, even ones that have been coming for years, the greeting is important because the way you treat them is the reason they continue to come.And when a long-time customer comes in and you greet them with “Hi [First Name],” this indicates your appreciation for them and that you’re glad to see them as a person, more than just a customer. New customers that witness this will see that your repeat customers are comfortable enough to be on a first-name basis, another indication of the trust they have in you.

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