Are Wheel Bearings Covered Under Warranty If They Go Bad?

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“Are wheel bearings covered under warranty?” is a question that most car owners ask, considering the size and importance of wheel bearings. These small iron balls help the vehicle to move forward by promoting efficient rotation of the wheel.

Are Wheel Bearings Covered Under Warranty

Without them, cars would struggle to move and even if they move, it could spell danger for the vehicle and its occupants. This article will discuss whether or not a warranty covers wheel bearings.

Are Wheel Bearings Covered Under Your Warranty?

Not all; wheel bearings are covered under your powertrain warranty but are exempted from the partial coverage warranty. A full coverage warranty covers the powertrain, of which the wheel bearings are a part. Thus, to have your wheel bearings replaced at no cost, go for the full coverage warranty.

Wheel bearings are small steel balls also known as ball bearings, tapers, or tapered bearings joined together by a metal ring. They connect the wheels to the axles and help in rotating the wheels when the accelerator pedal is pressed down or the car is pushed.

The metal ring that holds the bearings together is called a retaining ring and is either designed from steel or aluminum. It keeps the bearing joined to the car’s suspension system so that they don’t fall off. Oil is rubbed on the bearings to protect them from rust and dirt and to prevent them from making noise during driving.

Is Wheel Bearing Covered Under Bumper to Bumper Warranty?

No, wheel bearings are not covered under a bumper-to-bumper warranty. As a matter of fact, wheel bearings are not covered under most warranties due to their tendency to wear and tear quickly. They are instead covered under the powertrain warranty.

Are Wheel Bearing Covered Under Extended Warranty?

No, wheel bearings are not covered under extended warranty because they are considered as wear and tear components. Wear and tear components are usually not included in an extended warranty. Fortunately, wheel bearings are covered under a powertrain warranty, which replaces them when they are damaged.

Are Wheel Bearing Covered Under Extended Warranty

Powertrain warranty is an extended warranty that lasts for 60,000 miles or 5 years. This helps drivers to save money on major expensive repairs and replacements, which gives them peace of mind.

– Advantages of a Powertrain Warranty

Aside from replacing any of the damaged powertrain components, the powertrain warranty is also transferable to anyone who wants to purchase your car. This spikes the value of your car and you’re likely to get almost the same amount of money you spent on it.

Remember that the powertrain warranty lasts for 60,000 miles or 5 years, therefore be sure to sell within that period. Another advantage is that the warranty saves you money which you would’ve expended in repairing or replacing the damaged part.

Most of the components covered under the powertrain warranty are expensive but the costs are mitigated if you have a powertrain warranty. It is also one of the car warranties that has a long tenure compared to others.

To put it in context, a bumper-to-bumper warranty lasts 36,000 miles or the 3-years compared to the 60,000 miles or 5-years of the powertrain warranty. This type of warranty offers you peace of mind, knowing well that the most essential aspects of your car are covered.

– Explaining the Powertrain Warranty

A powertrain warranty covers every component of the vehicle that is directly involved in powering the vehicle including the engine, axles, differentials and driveshaft. Thus, if any of these components get damaged, they are replaced by the warranty.

Explaining the Powertrain Warranty

Now, the wheel bearings are part of the wheel assembly which firmly attaches the wheel to the car, thus making them a component of the powertrain. Therefore, if any of the wheel bearings are damaged, you can have them replaced if only they got damaged during the warranty period.

The warranty period usually covers 5 years or 60,000 miles, and if the vehicle is transferred to another person during that period, the warranty covers that as well. The powertrain warranty is an essential factor in car pricing and sales; the higher the warranty period, the higher the price. This warranty is the most important for your car because the parts it covers are expensive to repair or replace if they get damaged.

– Powertrain Warranty Exclusions

The warranty doesn’t cover parts of the car that are not connected to the powertrain, but it is important to check with the provider first. For instance, the braking system, battery and clutch are not covered under the powertrain warranty though they are connected to the engine.

Generally, wear and tear parts of the vehicle such as the ones mentioned above are covered under a different warranty.

How Do You Know If Your Wheel Bearings Need Replacement?

You’ll know if your wheel bearings need replacement if you notice that your steering wheel is loose, your wheel is wobbly, or the vehicle’s alignment is off. Other signs include failure of the anti-lock braking system, uneven wear and tear, and damaged rotors.

Wheel bearings usually cost around $400 to fix on one wheel. Therefore, to fix them on all four wheels if they are damaged would cost about $1,600. Take note that you’ll only need to replace damaged wheel bearings. If the others are perfectly fine, don’t bother fixing them.

– Deformed Rotors

Rotors are big metallic discs that press against the wheel when the brake pedal is applied to stop the vehicle. They are connected to the wheel hub and may become distorted if the wheels are wobbly due to damaged wheel bearings.

Deformed Rotors

When the rotors are distorted, they lose their efficiency and the braking system fails to work effectively.

– Loss of Alignment

Another sign that the bearings need replacement is when the vehicle loses its alignment and begins to veer to one side. This is because the wobbly wheels are unable to keep the car straight.

Also, if the bearings are corroded, they may cease to function and that will make it difficult to keep the car straight.

– Failure of Anti-lock Braking System (ABS)

The anti-lock braking system prevents the wheels from locking up during an emergency, helping the driver to maintain control of the vehicle.

The sensors for this system are located on the bearings, thus a damaged bearing may interfere with the sensors and disrupt the work of the ABS.

What Is the Importance of Wheel Bearings?

The importance of wheel bearings includes ensuring a smooth ride by helping the wheels to be sturdy and aiding the driver to gain full control of the vehicle.

Without wheel bearings in place, the car won’t be able to move and even if it does, the ride will be rough.

– Strong and Steady Wheels

Wheel bearings keep the wheels steady and strong by allowing the wheels to rotate freely. This makes driving smooth as the vehicle won’t struggle to overcome friction as it moves.

Strong and Steady Wheels

Without the wheel bearings, the vehicle will struggle to move as the wheels will have to work harder to overcome friction. This will lead to early wear and tear of the wheels, which will cost money to repair or replace.

– Full Control of the Vehicle

The smooth ride the bearings offer means that the driver maintains full control of the vehicle. The driver can steer the vehicle in whatever direction they want to and easily control the speed of the vehicle.

This will be extremely difficult to do in the absence of the bearings because the hub supports the wheel and contains inner and outer bearings. The ones on the inside support the hub and axle while the ones on the outside carry the vehicle’s weight on the axle.

Together, both sets of bearings keep the wheel rotating fluidly on the axle. They ensure that the driving experience is smooth while preventing premature wear and tear. Also, the wheel bearings allow the suspension of the vehicle to work efficiently. An effective suspension allows the wheels to grip the road better, which leads to better handling especially when the road is winding.

Conclusion

We’ve discovered the answer to the question of whether or not wheel bearings are covered under warranty and other important facts.

Here is a recap of all that we’ve read:

  • Wheel bearings are covered under a powertrain warranty which lasts for 5 years or 60,000 miles.
  • This saves the car owner a lot of money as they don’t have to pay a dime for replacing damaged wheel bearings during the warranty period.
  • The powertrain warranty covers all the components that make up the powertrain including the engine, transmission, axles and driveshaft.
  • Wheel bearings keep the wheels strong and steady and give the driver full control of the vehicle while enhancing the driving experience.
  • Damaged wheel bearings can lead to anti-lock braking system failure, loss of alignment, and deformed rotors.

The powertrain warranty doesn’t cover the braking system, battery and clutch, but you’ll need to check with your provider to determine the exact components under the warranty coverage.

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