Lexus082

Was wondering after reading a post... How can a bad wheel bearing damage a hub assy/spindle/knuckle?

speedrace

The wheel bearing has a inner--and outer--race. The inner race slides onto a stationary shaft called a stub axle. Everything is fine as long as the bearing has lubricant to allow the outer race (pressed into the hub/brake rotor) to rotate around the inner race on the spinning ***** or tapered rollers that keep the inner and outer race spaced apart. These rollers are contained in what is called a cage.

But--when lubricant breaks down, and the metal surfaces make contact with each other there is transfer of metal that takes place. The races get wear grooves in them. The rollers or ***** start to get pits in them. (It is the pits running over the grooves in the races that causes the noise and vibration we hear when your wheel bearings are going).

In the final stages of bearing breakdown, the inner race starts to rotate on the stub axle and wear it. If this goes on too long, you are looking at replacing the upright with the stub in addition to bearings and races.

shonuff53

iTrader: (3)

my inner seal on my left rear wheel bearing froze due to bad bearings and then ate up the hub where it use to make contact.. sucks..

RX729

sad to hear that...