2009 Ford Explorer - Wheel Bearing

Perform a DIY Wheel Bearing Replacement

Wheel bearings allow the wheels on your vehicle to spin smoothly and help prevent damage to other suspension components by keeping the wheels' rotation tight and even while driving. Your wheel bearings include a central housing and a number of rollers or ball bearings that travel along a separate outer bearing race. Bearing races are machined with a smooth surface from the factory to provide minimal resistance during bearing operation, and should always be replaced when servicing the wheel bearings on your vehicle. Some wheel bearings include both an inner and an outer race with rollers between them, and these types of bearings are installed as a unit and typically non-serviceable. Wheel bearings are greased to keep metal-on-metal contact to a minimum and extend the wheel bearing's life, and greasing the wheel bearings regularly can help prevent premature failure. When grease inside and around the wheel bearings breaks down or becomes contaminated, it can cause the bearings to suffer rapid wear, damage, and create noise or driveability changes in your vehicle. Worn out wheel bearings can lead to shaking or jerking in your steering wheel, rasping or grinding noises coming from your wheels, irregular tire wear, and even an ABS warning light or code that can affect the way your vehicle stops. Wheel bearing failure may also cause damage to your hubs, spindle, and more if not addressed in a timely manner, so ensure that any bearing issues are dealt with promptly to keep your vehicle on the road safely. If you need to replace your car's wheel bearings, or if you want to learn more, check out our wheel bearing symptoms and testing article and shop O'Reilly Auto Parts for the right repair components. We carry wheel bearings, wheel seals, hub assemblies, grease, and more to help you perform a long-lasting wheel bearing service.