Hub bearing: general information

The bearing of the hub makes itself felt usually when it is time to replace it. About its malfunction, motorists, as a rule, do not hear from the car repairers, but by the nature of the car's noises. This happens quite often due to the fact that the bearing is subjected to extreme loads every day. It is influenced by the climate, the environment, but to a greater extent the road surface and the loads from the dynamic parts of the car - the steering, the braking system and the drive.

Bearing types

In total in the design of the car there are applied two types - rolling and sliding bearings. And the number of them is estimated in dozens. Almost all nodes of the car have bearings.

Friction bearing

This type is the bearing of the hub. It consists of two rings - outer and inner, separator and rolling elements. These "bodies" have different shapes, rotate or "roll" in the grooves created between the two rings. Depending on the shape of the rolling elements, the hub bearing is still ball-shaped or roller bearing . In the latter case, the rollers can be of different shapes: cylindrical, needle, conical or some other.

Hub bearing front

In cars with rear-wheel drive it is of the following type: type - roller, in number of rows - single-row, in form of rolling elements - conical. In general, two such bearings are used. They can withstand significant loads, both radial and axial.

Maintenance and service life

The greatest load, as already mentioned, the bearing of the hub is experiencing from road irregularities, and there are a lot of them in our country. However, do not underestimate the environmental factor, for example, temperature drops. If in the first case the bearing is likely to have to be changed, then in the second one it can be saved with lubricant, due to which friction decreases, partial repulsion of dirt and corrosion protection occur . For such purposes, various grease materials are suitable. Because of the possibility of danger, this vehicle node should be inspected periodically, approximately every 20-30 thousand kilometers of run. In this case, the play is checked, the presence of noise when the wheel rotates. If you have a single-row bearing installed on your car, you should periodically pay attention to the axial clearance and change the lubricant in a timely manner. If you have closed bearings, sometimes you need to check the seals for integrity. The life of this unit depends on timely monitoring and proper installation. If you resort to a self-replacement unit, then first you should read the manufacturer's instructions. Some bearings are installed under strong pressure.

Bearing of WHA

For owners of VAZs such manufacturers as SKF, KOYO are suitable. It is even better to install stock factory bearings, because some motorists are firmly convinced of the quality of only such parts. This can be explained by the installation technique, which may not be observed. Therefore, before buying bearings, it is best to consult with specialists, and then contact them for replacement parts. Then you can enjoy a ride without noise for longer.