Q: Wheel Bearings

asked by on December 08, 2016

When I drive at normal city speeds I have no issue. As soon as I go past 65 the car starts shaking a lot like a bad vibration. But I feel it on the front right more. Then it randomly stops. So it's weird and confusing. When I'm stopping at a red light I can hear like a deep grinding noise.. what could it be?

My car has 15000 miles.
My car has a manual transmission.

This may be a sign of failing or worn out wheel bearings. A wheel bearing will usually fail due to pitting or small damage on the surface of the rollers or the bearing race. Both the surface of the rollers and the race is precision machined to tight tolerances and highly polished to allow the rollers to pass easily over the race with the addition of bearing grease for lubrication and cooling. Over time the bearing will wear slightly, allowing microscopic pieces of metal into the grease. Bearing noise can sound a lot like a brake pad dragging or grinding. It can also sound like whirring, whining or humming depending on how much sound deadening material your vehicle has in it. Bearing noise will always be dependent on vehicle speed meaning as you speed up or slow down the noise should change frequency or loudness. Cornering may affect the noise from a damaged front wheel bearing and is usually more pronounced as you make turns. I would suggest having a professional from Your Mechanic come to your home to take a look at the car and check your wheel bearings for failure.

The statements expressed above are only for informational purposes and should be independently verified. Please see our terms of service for more details

Get an instant quote for your car

Our certified mechanics come to you ・Backed by 12-month, 12,000-mile guarantee・Fair and transparent pricing


Experienced Mechanic?

Earn up to $70/hr

What others are asking

How do you maintain and clean the seat belts?
While your seat belts don’t require much in the way of maintenance, they do need to be kept clean and free of debris. It really just boils down to washing them periodically. Here’s how to do that correctly: Use mild...
How do I delete a paired phone with the voice recognition system?
It’s very easy to delete phones that are paired to the Bluetooth system. It takes a few quick steps: 1. Press the voice command button. 2. When the system says “Ready”, and then offers a tone, say “Bluetooth”. 3. Say...
Battery light on
Hello. The battery light turning on when the engine is running indicates that system voltage is low. Everything required to run the engine, and everything in the car, will drain the battery. Most likely, it is the alternator, but the...
Rough idle and SEL is flashing. I've replaced all 6 plugs and coil packs. The car still has a rough idle and no power.
Misfiring can be caused by lack of spark or lack of fuel. If the same cylinders are still showing codes for misfiring after replacing the coils, the problem can lie elsewhere. If it is the coils not firing, there can...
Overheated, power steering went out and battery went low
Hi There, What you have described sounds like your serpentine belt (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/serpentine-drive-belt-replacement) may have come off. As you may know all of the accessories (ie alternator which charges the battery, power steering and the water pump) are driven by the...
Can a leaking intake manifold cause surging on my 93 Chevy Silverado 1500
Hello. A leaking intake manifold gasket can definitely cause the vehicle to run like this. It will not only cause excessive amounts of air to enter the engine, but it will also cause the sensors to not read right. It...
Front wheel rumbling/rattling noise at consistent speed
Hi there. In all honestly, the symptoms you are describing can be multiple sources, from wheel bearings (as the initial mechanic thought) to warped brake rotor, excessive wear on CV joints, or transmission components. It's also possible that a drive...
Car quietly died while driving
This is a common symptom of a failing crankshaft position sensor and as the code indicates, this means the sensor needs to be replaced. A crankshaft position sensor (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/crankshaft-position-sensor-replacement) is an electronic device used to monitor the position or rotational...
my car doesnt recognize that the clutch is being pushed
Hi Matthew. Thanks for contacting us today. Typically when a car with a manual transmission will not start due to this problem, it is due to a failed clutch safety switch. If you'd like to request an estimate to have...

Related articles

The Best Used Cars to Buy If You’re Shorter Than Average
Vertically Vertically challenged? Hate getting behind the wheel and having to crane your neck to see? There’s nothing wrong with you, but there is something wrong with your car. It might be time to trade it in and take advantage...
Symptoms of a Bad or Failing Differential Gasket
If you find traces of oil on the underside of the differential, puddles of fluid, or whining sounds, you may need to replace the differential gasket.
The Most Popular Cars in American Cities
The The American car market is defined by diversity underneath sameness. In almost every part of this country, the most common cars are sedans from Honda, Toyota, Ford and Chevrolet. But this belies how different Americans truly are in their...