Expert Wheel Guide: Common Issues, Solutions, and Pro Tips

As a market leader in wheel bearings, brake disc kits and wheel speed sensors, SNR is proud to share its expertise with you.

These safety-critical parts need to be replaced at the first sign of failure. But how do you detect a failure? Rely on the expertise of our specialists to show you how.

Why do indentations or breaks appear on the shoulder of a wheel bearing?

Incorrect installation of the wheel bearing
Fitting the bearing at an angle
Bearing has an impact with a hard surface
Transfer of assembly force by rolling elements (balls /rollers)

What are the consequences of indentations or broken shoulders on a wheel bearing?

Indentations on the raceway of the bearing
Damaged or broken shoulder
Noisey bearing once assembled
Play in the wheel

How can I avoid shoulder damage and indentations on the raceways?

Press on the correct part of the bearing: Press the bearing in via the outer ring only, to avoid the rolling elements damaging the raceways.
Follow the general recommendations for installation

Why do scratches appear on the balls of wheel bearings?

Incorrect installation of the wheel bearing
Fitting the wheel bearing at an angle
Transfer of assembly force by rolling elements (balls /rollers)

What are the consequences of scratched balls on wheel bearings?

Damage to the rolling elements on the inner edge of the raceway due to the inner rings spreading apart.
Circular deterioration of the balls with displacement of the material
Scratches on the balls causing deteriation of the running surfaces
Scratches and wear damage on the raceways.

How can I prevent scratches on the rolling elements?

Never lower a vehicle to the ground or move it unless the wheel bearing has been tightened to the correct torque.

Why do wheel bearings chip?

Fatigue
Assembly fault
Geometric defect in one of the surrounding parts

What are the consequences of a chipped wheel bearing?

Removal of material in the form of flakes from the wheel bearing raceway

How can I prevent wheel bearings from chipping?

Observe the general recommendations for wheel bearing assembly
It is essential to check the condition of the hub surface or the stub axel assembly (no cracks, no wear no damage)
Do not use a grinder to remove the inner ring from the wheel hub (the hub will be cut and damaged)
Recommended use of the OM8033 extraction set for bearing inner rings

Why do wheel bearings seize up or overheat?

Lack of lubrication or inadequate lubrication
Micro-welds between bearing components
Contaminated grease following pollution ingress such as water

What are the consequences of a seized or overheated wheel bearing?

Surface scratches and damage on wheel bearing races
Wheel bearing components welding themselves together
Dis-coloration of components (straw colour)

How can I avoid wheel bearing lubrication defects?

Check for any grease leaks that might appear abnormal when fitting the wheel bearing
Follow the general recommendations for installation
Ensure correct lubrication of wheel bearing components

Why does the wheel bearing vibrate?

Incorrect adjustment of running gear
Problems with the rigidity of the running gear or worn suspension bushes
Bearing tightened incorrectly

What are the consequences of wheel bearing vibrations?

Vibrations felt at the steering wheel or in the passenger compartment when driving
Risk of bearing damage (chipping, ball scratches, etc.)

How can I prevent the wheel bearing from vibrating?

Check that wheels are balanced and tyres are in good condition
Follow the general recommendations for installation

Why do I find it hard to steer the vehicle correctly?

Incorrect adjustment of running gear
Rigidity of suspension running gear or worn suspension bushing
Wheel bearing incorrectly tightened

What are the consequences of having difficulty steering your vehicle?

In a straight line, the vehicle tends to pull to the right or left
Risk of damage to the wheel bearing (chipping, scratches to the balls)

How do you restore a vehicle's steering?

Check the geometry of the running gear
Replace worn suspension ball joints or bushings
Follow the general recommendations for installation

Why is the ASB® indicator light on the dashboard on?

ECU fault
Sensor fault
Connection issue
Encoder damage
Wheel bearing fitted backwards

What should I do if the ASB® indicator light on the dashboard stays on?

Check that the sensor and encoder are clean
Never bring the sensor and encoder close to a magnetic source
Check the condition of the encoder seal using the ASB® SNR tester card

How can I prevent the ASB® warning light turning on?

When fitting the wheel bearing, take care not to damage the sensor (remove if possible); replace it if necessary.
When fitting the wheel bearing, position the bearing so that the bearing encoder is facing the sensor side (towards inside of the vehicle).

The wheel bearing is a part of the wheel axle that allows the wheel to rotate in relation to the hub. There are several generations of wheel bearings with different disassembly and assembly processes.

Our recommendations for garages:

Generation 0 type bearings (taper roller): don't forget to grease the bearings and ensure they are watertight (grease cap fitted tightly)
Generation 1 Cartridge bearings: the press force must always be applied to the outer ring of the bearing and never the middle ring.
Gen 2.1: fitting requires special tools. Use the Gen 2.1 bearing removal and fitting tool for diameters from 62 to 85mm (OM8036), co-developed by SNR and CLAS, and follow our tutorial to change a Gen 2.1 wheel hub.
Gen 2 and 3: tightening the bolts (torque and angle) is essential. See our Gen 3 wheel hub assembly/disassembly tutorial for best practice.
For all generations: tighten the central bolt/nut (CV joint or stub axle), to the recommended torque with the wheel off the ground (never on the ground), Never us an impact wrench to tighten the centre bolt /nut.

The speed sensor is an essential component in the operation of many on-board vehicle systems. It is a pulse generator that transforms a mechanical rotational movement into an electronic digital signal.

There are 2 types of technology:

Active speed sensor: the sensor works even when stationary. This can be compared to the battery-operated lighting system on a bicycle: the light works even at 0 km/h. On a car, the signal will be emitted from 0 km/h.
Passive speed sensor: the sensor only works at minimum speed. This can be compared to the dynamo lighting system on a bicycle: no light at low speed. On a car, there will be no signal to the central unit.

Our recommendations for garages:

Properly clean the connector (plug) before reassembly
Thoroughly clean the sensor location hole
Insert the sensor without grease
Tighten the retaining screw to the correct torque

Once the battery is reconnected, the ASB light on the dashboard disappears automatically.

The SNR brake disc with integrated wheel bearing is a safety critical component. It's a pre-assembled solution for fast, easy repairs that avoids assembly problems. This part has ECE R90 certification, a mandatory regulation for all braking components.

Our recommendations for garages:

Brake discs must be changed in pairs
This is an integrated pre-assembled solution: the bearing should never be removed from the disk assembly at any point
To facilitate insertion, SNR recommends the set of 8 CLAS OM4217 disc hub mounting bushes.

Expert Wheel Guide: Common Issues, Solutions, and Pro Tips

Indentations or shoulder breaks

Why do indentations or breaks appear on the shoulder of a wheel bearing?

What are the consequences of indentations or broken shoulders on a wheel bearing?

How can I avoid shoulder damage and indentations on the raceways?

Scratches on the balls

Why do scratches appear on the balls of wheel bearings?

What are the consequences of scratched balls on wheel bearings?

How can I prevent scratches on the rolling elements?

Pollution due to leaks

Why might a wheel bearing leak?

How can I avoid wheel bearing leaks?

Fatigue spalling

Why do wheel bearings chip?

What are the consequences of a chipped wheel bearing?

How can I prevent wheel bearings from chipping?

Seizures / Overheating / Lubrication faults

Why do wheel bearings seize up or overheat?

What are the consequences of a seized or overheated wheel bearing?

How can I avoid wheel bearing lubrication defects?

Grease leaks

Why is my wheel bearing leaking grease?

What are the consequences of wheel bearing grease leaks?

How can I prevent grease from leaking out of the wheel bearing?

Vibrations

Why does the wheel bearing vibrate?

What are the consequences of wheel bearing vibrations?

How can I prevent the wheel bearing from vibrating?

Difficulties steering the vehicle

Why do I find it hard to steer the vehicle correctly?

What are the consequences of having difficulty steering your vehicle?

How do you restore a vehicle's steering?

Noisey wheel bearing

Why does the wheel bearing become noisey?

What are the consequences of a noisey wheel bearing?

How can I avoid wheel bearings rattling?

ASB® issues

Why is the ASB® indicator light on the dashboard on?

What should I do if the ASB® indicator light on the dashboard stays on?

How can I prevent the ASB® warning light turning on?

Wheel bearing

Wheel speed sensors

Brake disc with integrated wheel bearing