March 2021

I n a world where vehicles have not moved as much as anyone would normally expect for almost a year, it might be wise to give some thought to the components that make movement possible, namely bearings. Of course, lockdown is not the only problem. Winter will have played its predictable part in the slow degradation of parts through the last few months. If you factor in damage from last winter that was never addressed due to the first lockdown being imposed, then you have all the elements in place for a bumper period for bearings work. Premature failure “Our reliably unreliable weather, coupled with steadily worsening road conditions, creates a perfect storm when it comes to premature wheel bearing failure,” said Adam White, Workshop Solutions Director at LKQ Euro Car Parts. “Exposed components are at significant risk of surface damage as a result of water, salt and grit, and with many vehicles being driven considerably less than normal over the past 12 months, the likelihood of corrosion is greater than ever. Wheel bearings are quite literally a central part of overall wheel assembly, and a safety-critical component of every vehicle. As well as helping the wheels spin freely, they also control braking and cornering forces, and support key systems including ABS, traction control, electronic parking braking and cruise control. “Garages must therefore take extra care when servicing wheel bearings. Fitment is a precise operation, done wrong, they’re more likely to fail sooner, with potential compromises to driver safety. Wheel bearings are regularly under significant pressure, meaning installation that does not correspond with vehicle-specific torque values leaves them operating under abnormal or unsafe loads, which can be dangerous.” Adam added: “The most important factor for technicians to consider when working with bearings is that they cannot be repaired. If they are damaged, however superficially, they must be replaced to protect vehicle health and driver safety. We encourage all garages to invest in the skills, tools and technology required to safely install wheel bearings, which not only opens up a key revenue stream, but helps them guarantee the safety of every vehicle that leaves their workshop. It’s their professional responsibility and it makes good business sense, too, as customers will be more likely to come back time and time again.” Types Despite the fact that wheel bearing replacement is a fairly regular occurrence, Dayco National Sales Manager Steve Carolan said there is still some confusion regarding the various bearing types, as well as fitting procedures: “A good example of the differing wheel bearing technologies comes with the Citroën C1/Peugeot 107/Toyota Aygo from 2005 onwards, which all share the same platform and utilise Generation 1 bearings on the front and Generation 3 at the rear. “Generation 1 wheel bearings are generally mounted into hubs and axles and while the vehicle manufacturer’s dismantling and assembly recommendations should always be adhered to, many of the following common sense practices will apply across most applications. Naturally, during removal, care should be taken to avoid damage to safety critical items such as ABS and brake wear sensors and cables, as well as brake calipers and discs. Although 24 AFTERMARKET MARCH 2021 BEARINGS www.aftermarketonline.net BEARINGS STRAIGHT-TALK Wheel bearings have changed in recent years, so you need to know what they can do so you can work with them effectively Right: Wheel bearing kit from Dayco