Wheel Hub Kits - Wheel Hub Bearing - Free Wheeling Hub

Wheel Hub Assembly - Wheel Hub Replacement Kits

Whenever you do a tight turn on a narrow country road or change lanes on the freeway, you depend on your vehicle to steer you exactly where you want it to be every time you drive your car. But have you ever thought about what enables you to turn left and right and go straight down the road? You will be surprised that it’s not one of your vehicle’s major parts responsible for this. Instead, it’s a small part called a wheel hub assembly and wheel bearing that is a crucial component of your steering system. If a wheel bearing goes bad, more friction will be placed on the wheel, and the wheel will start to wobble.

What is a Wheel Hub Assembly?

A wheel hub assembly, also known as wheel bearing or wheel bearing hub, is an axle and bearing mechanism. It is a crucial component of your vehicle’s steering system, contributing to the safe steering and handling of your car. Without the wheel hub, your vehicle will not freely turn as it should, making it extremely difficult to handle it.

Modern cars have an ABS sensor and speed sensor fitted to the hub via an electrical connector. In most cases, a full wheel hub assembly is a pre-assembled unit that includes a wheel hub unit, bearings, seals, and sensors. The wheel hub has bearings, which allows the wheels to spin smoothly. The wheel bearing assembly is connected to the upper and lower control arm or shock absorber.

A bad wheel hub assembly will make a whirring or grinding noise. It will also cause uneven tire wear as the wheels become loose. The wheel hub assembly should be checked periodically to prevent the wheels from slipping out. At Machter Auto, we stock a wide variety of wheel hub kits for every car make and model.

  • How do you identify a faulty wheel hub?
  • Loud noise coming from the tyres or wheels of your vehicle
  • Steering wheel feels loose and out of balance 
  • Tyres wearing out faster than usual

If a wheel bearing is missing or faulty, it is not recommended you drive the vehicle at all as the wheel can fall off entirely while the vehicle is in motion.

Where Can I Find the Wheel Hub Assembly?

You can find the wheel bearing hub of your vehicle on each wheel, between the axle and brake discs or drums. The wheel hub is connected to the steering knuckle as a bolt-on or press-in assembly on the drive axle side. On the brake disc side, the wheel is mounted to the bolts of the wheel bearing hub. If you would like to see the wheel hub assembly, you will need to remove the wheel, the brake caliper, and the brake rotor. 

There is a wheel hub assembly in each wheel for modern vehicles manufactured from 1998 to the present. If you need a wheel bearing replacement, it will be removed and replaced with a new assembly. If your car was made before 1997, the front-wheel-drive cars use wheel hub assemblies at each wheel, and the rear-wheel-drive cars have two individual front-wheel bearing and seals. For this, bearings can be serviced, unlike a wheel hub assembly.

What Does a Wheel Assembly Hub Do?

Your vehicle’s wheel hub assembly is the one responsible for keeping your wheels attached to your car, allowing the wheels to freely turn so you can safely steer your car. It is also critical to your anti-lock braking system (ABS) and the traction control system (TCS). 

Apart from the bearings, wheel hub assemblies contain the wheel speed sensor that controls your car’s ABS braking system. This sensor relays to the ABS control how fast each wheel is turning. In the event of a hard-braking situation, the system will use the information to determine whether anti-locking braking is needed. 

Every vehicle’s traction control system also uses the anti-lock braking system wheel sensors to operate. The TCS is considered an extension of the ABS, and they work together to keep control of the vehicle. If this fails, it can compromise the ABS and TCS.

What are the Symptoms of a Failing Wheel Hub Assembly?

A bad wheel bearing can present various symptoms. If you want to know if you need a wheel hub bearing replacement, here are the signs you should watch out for.

Wheel wobble or vibration

In most cases, when you feel that your wheel is vibrating and wobbling, it is associated with worn-out tires or suspensions. When this symptom is related to the wheel hub, this can mean that the clamp is lost or the wheel hub bearing has severe mechanical damage. This can also happen when lug nuts are not correctly tightened into place.

Clicking or popping noise

Wheel hub bearing noise such as snapping, clicking, or popping is never a good thing. The noise can be due to excessive bearing endplay. You can hear the noise when making sharp turns.

Abnormal pull when braking

If you feel like there’s an abnormal pull when braking, this can indicate a defective caliper, worn-out brakes, or warped rotors but severe bearing looseness can also be the cause of excessive runout. Runout can also cause the brakes to pulsate or pull.

FAQs

What is included in wheel assembly hub kits?

In a wheel assembly hub kit, it includes the hub and bearings.

What’s the difference between 2 wheel and 4 wheel ABS?

ABS stands for anti-lock braking system, which prevents the wheels from skidding when you slow down or brake. This allows the vehicle to stop faster and maintains steering when you stop. 2 wheel ABS only has electrical connections on one axle while 4 wheel ABS will have it on both the front and rear axles. To determine whether your vehicle has 2 wheel or 4 wheel ABS, you can check your wheel hubs for electrical wiring or sensor.

How much does a wheel bearing replacement cost?

A wheel hub assembly can cost from $70 to $220 depending on the brand, condition, vehicle application. You can check out our wheel bearing assembly kits to know how much it will cost you to replace your old ones.

Can I install the wheel bearing myself?

If you know your way around a car and call yourself handy, then you can replace and install the wheel hub by yourself.

How long does it take to install a wheel hub assembly? How much will labour cost?
Installing a wheel assembly hub can be quick, and an experienced mechanic can do it for about 30 to 45 minutes. The cost of labour varies depending on the mechanic, so if you plan on having it installed, please check the labour rate of your chosen mechanic.

Why shop at Machter?

Our online auto-steering, brake and suspension accessories cater to different vehicle makes and models so that when you buy auto parts from us, you can feel confident. From SUV parts to truck parts and everything in between - we can supply just the perfect solutions for every car enthusiast to save you money. Get in touch with your reliable Machter team on (02)7801 4933 or sales@machter.com.au.