Wheel Bearings

A wheel bearing is a set of steel balls held together in a metal ring, called a race. At the center of the wheels, there is a hollow piece of metal, called a hub. The wheel bearings fit tightly inside this hub, and ride on a metal axle shaft, helping reduce friction when the wheel spins. Bearings come in many different types that are designated to deal with the radial load, thrust load, or a combination of both. Ball Bearings are the most common type of wheel bearing, the ball bearing is also the most versatile. Ball bearings have the ability to absorb both radial and thrust loads. Radial load is the amount of weight put on a wheel. The thrust load is cornering pressure. Ball bearings can be found in wheels as small as those on roller skates to tires as large as those on automobiles. Roller bearings are also commonly used wheel bearings; however, they do not have the versatility of ball bearings. They handle the radial load well but do not hold up under thrust. This makes them virtually unusable in wheels that have to corner with even moderate amounts of speed. Tapered roller bearings are most often used in standard cars and trucks and wheels. The cone shape allows for the reduction of friction during cornering when thrust load is at its greatest. When a car turns, the wheels angle to varying degrees. Tapered roller bearings allow for this to keep shifting parts from grinding

Bearings decrease friction, sustain the load of the vehicle, tolerate lateral forces at corners, bearings are tightly sealed to avoid dust and water intrusion, wheel bearings are strong, wheel bearings are crafted with high-quality steel.

The wheel bearing allows the car wheels turn with very little effort, while supporting the mass of the vehicle. The steering knuckle is a stub axle used as a link between the tie rod and the wheel. The steering knuckles often attach the upper and lower ball joints to the suspension. The disk brake systems use steering knuckles as a brake caliper brace. The front wheel bearing is mounted on the knuckle of the car on the right side of the vehicle. The drive flange is then pulled out of the bearing. The drive shaft is then threaded through the drive flange, and the main bolt of the drive shaft is tightened after the brake disk has been mounted, and the wheel is then fitted. When the drive shaft turns, the drive flange shifts due to the bearing inside, causing the wheel to turn.