Do you ever get the strange sensation that your Mini’s front wheel is slightly loose and/or hear a grinding sound? These might be indications that it is time for a front wheel bearing replacement. The wheel bearings are small balls inside the wheel hub that allow your Mini to rotate easily. As time goes by, these balls can begin to wear causing noise and other signs of failure. Here are the common signs that show your front wheel bearing is due for replacement and steps you can take to prolong the bearing life.
Symptoms That Indicate You Need Front Wheel Bearing Replacement
- Unusual Noises While Driving: The first and most apparent indication of a bad wheel bearing is an unusual sound from the front part of the vehicle. It usually begins as a low-frequency rumble and progresses to a louder level of noise. The sound could rise when you rev the engine, corner, or drive over a bumpy road. If one day you hear a grinding sound, it is high time to change the bearings because they must have been severely worn out.
- Vibration in the Steering Wheel: Is the steering wheel shaking when you are driving your Mini? While this can also be caused by unbalanced tires or suspension problems, it’s often associated with worn out wheel bearings. The vibration may increase with speed, or when cornering, and may interfere with the driver’s control of the vehicle. This symptom should not be overlooked because it has a potential of making the handling of the car difficult.
- Uneven Tire Wear: A healthy wheel bearing permits an equal distribution of the tire and it wears evenly. But if a bearing is damaged, it will make the wheel to be slightly off balance and wear your tires at different angles. Make sure you look at your tires often; they may show signs of wearing out on one side. If you observe this pattern, you should get your wheel bearings checked immediately.
- Poor Handling or Pulling to One Side: A bad wheel bearing will affect the alignment of your Mini; it becomes difficult to steer or the car may pull to the side. This issue can be dangerous, especially when you drive at high speeds or sometimes in an emergency where quick maneuvering is needed. If your Mini responds in a way that is not as stable or as responsive as it once was, you should take it to the mechanic.
Ways To Increase The Lifespan Of The Wheel Bearings
As you may expect, wheel bearings are bound to wear out after some time of use, but you can extend the time before this happens if you follow the steps below.
- Avoid Rough Roads: Road defects such as potholes and other forms of rough road surfaces increase the working pressure on your bearings. Be cautious while driving over these surfaces so as to avoid causing or inflicting a lot of damage on the bearing or other parts of your Mini suspension.
- Keep Bearings Lubricated: Lubrication is very important because it minimizes contact between the bearing surfaces, reducing wear. With proper lubrication, you can ensure that the bearings are in good shape all of the time.
- Rotate Your Tires: While balancing the tires during replacement or during periods of maintenance it helps to rotate the tires and in this way, the pressure on the bearings is reduced.
- Inspect Regularly: Take your Mini for servicing and ask for checks during the routine service. Bearing problems if detected at an early stage will help you avoid a lot of money being spent on repair.
Bring Your Mini To Woodinville Sports Cars For Wheel Bearing Fixes In Woodinville
Woodinville Sports Cars is a leading auto service company that deals with the repair and maintenance of Mini and other European automobiles. Our team of highly trained mechanics understands the Mini brand inside out and will provide a reliable service every time you bring your vehicle to our workshop.
When you entrust your Mini to us we only use the highest quality parts to ensure maximum performance in your vehicle and our professionals will ensure that they take you through the entire process as they perform the service. We can easily identify and repair the wheel bearing problem so that your Mini will be as good as new.
Our shop is located in Woodinville, WA and we assist people from all over Redmond, Kirkland, Bothell, Mill Creek, Monroe, Kenmore, and Snohomish, WA. If you are having any of the symptoms mentioned above, do not hesitate! Give us a call today to book your Mini for an inspection and keep your car in the best shape.
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