What happens in bearing failure?

[orion_134]

I was thinking about what would happened if a hub bearing failed and the hubs were disengaged, would it take out the transfer case/differential? Maybe my thinking was wrong and the wheel will just lock up...
Jesse

 

[bushpilot]

hub bearing as in a WHEEL bearing ?
well if it were allowed to go long enough youd have
a poorly worn tire, and although i would HOPE the wheel
wouldnt come off it COULD if the bearing were allowed to
disintegrate.

'course theres an inner & outter wheel bearing so it depends
on which one fails first...either one left long enough would
provide metal and "dust" enough to cause failure of the other...
eventually you could have axle wear too.

 

[DaveBen]

Wheel bearings can and do lock up almost instantly, but not always. They usually just get loose. You can jack up your truck and grab the wheel at 12:00 and 6:00 and move it.

Dave

 

[fordtrucker4life!]

4X4 models have hub bearings and 4X2 has wheel bearings. Hub bearings bolt onto the steering knuckle and the drive shaft goes into it via spline. My buddies Churvie truck had wheel bearings lock up. They will make a squeal sound only when turning at first, then start squealing all the time. They are not greaseable and must be replaced as a hub.

 

[DaveBen]

The principal is still the same. They will move in the way I said if they are worn.

Dave

 

[JDecker88]

I have a 4x4 I lost my front hub bearings a month ago... after a nice 100 mile trip home. I heard the squeaking when going slow. Nice little hub assembly to replace.