Wheel bearings are a vital part of a vehicle’s braking, steering and suspension systems. They’re a set of steel balls or tapered bearings that sit inside the one-piece hub assembly, located between the drive axle and the brake disc or drums. Bearings allow the wheels to turn smoothly, with as little friction as possible.

The bearings themselves are packed tightly, encase in grease and sealed into a waterproof ring. This housing, called a race, is located inside the hub and each wheel has one.

For a more detailed explanation about any of these symptoms, read our car advice article How Do I Know If I Need New Wheel Bearings?

The cost to replace one front-wheel hub assembly varies widely. Some variables include the make and model, the garage’s labor rate and the cost for parts.

The national average is about $350 to fix the wheel bearings at one wheel. As you might imagine, however, luxury brands cost more.

Please note: If the wheel bearings need replacing at one wheel, you don’t necessary need to replace the bearings at the other wheel on the same axle. It’s not like matching a pair of tires.

The good news is you’re in good hands with Kelley. We’ve been providing values and other pricing for almost 100 years. You can trust the Fair Repair Range, what you should pay for a repair or maintenance item based on what others have paid.

These are the ways to tell if something is amiss with your wheel bearings.

• Humming noise
• Squealing, growling
• Clicking sound
• Wheel wobble
• ABS failure
• Uneven tire wear
• Vehicle pulls to one side
• Steering wheel vibrations
• Steering feels loose

For more on any of these complaints – not to mention more than you ever knew you wanted to know about wheel bearings, read the full article

In theory, wheel bearings could last as long as your car. Unlike oil changes or tire rotations, there’s no standard maintenance schedule for replacing them. However, they can be damaged, especially if you hit a pothole, clip a curb or drive over a speed bump too fast. (And who hasn’t done that?)

If water, mud, road salt or sand get to the bearings, it will contaminate the grease in the hub assembly. In turn, the bearings will wear down, and eventually fail. In addition, ignoring worn-out wheel bearings can damage the vehicle’s inner or outer CV joints (constant velocity joints), which attaches to the driveshaft and transmission.

The best course of action? Find a reputable service technician for advice.

Having bad wheel bearings can range from inconvenience and unpleasant to downright dangerous.

If you have bad wheel bearings, you might experience the vehicle pulling to one side, sloppy or loose steering, grinding and rattling noises, and uneven tire wear.

In the worst case scenario, the wheel could come off while you’re drive. And even if you don’t know a lot about cars, you probably know that would be BAD.