What happens if I don't replace my front wheel bearings?

Answer 1

All wheel beraings eventually wear out. Assuming normal service, they should last at least 100,000 miles. When they begin to fail, first they become loose. This allows the wheels to wobble as they roll down the road, leading to uneven tire wear. This looseness. or "play" is too small to be felt in the steering, but can sometimes be felt by jacking up the wheel and attempting to shake it. As wear increases, the bearing loses it's ability to limit friction, and heat begins to build up. This leads to a downward failure spriral. When the heat becomes great enough, the grease lubricating the bearing will burn, further increasing friction and heat. At this point the driver will feel grinding and pull in the steering. After the loss of the lubricant, the friction of metal on metal builds heat rapidly, eventually reaching a point hot enough to soften the steel. At this point, a catastrophic failure of the axle, and separation of the wheel from the car is possible.