wheel bearings

[PLIVELY34]

Someone told me that a worn wheel bearing does not actually do any damage is this true? The reason i ask is my girlfriends car (Renault Megane Coupe) sounds like a plane taking off everytime i drive it. I know its the bearings(do Renault make theirs out of toilet roll). I know it will not be done until January now so is it ok to keep driving it, note they have been like this for a month all ready and she has not got them sorted. I think she just turns up the CD player to cover the noise. Thanks in Advance

[bob57]

The worst that can happen is the wheel will fall off then your girlfriend would be charged with driving a defective vehicle
now what do you want todo now????????????

[gouldc]

Bob has it spot on - god knows who told you it won't do any damage.

The bearing will get noisier (easily rectified with the CD player), until it seizes and collapses, potentially causing the wheel to come off. Not too much of an issue at low speeds, but doubtful it would be much fun on the motorway, on a corner overlooking a lrge drop, near a busstop, school, etc

[jake-the-peg]

I think the point is that wheel bearings can make a noise for a while before a catastrophic failure.

Typically you might start to hear a noise when you're turning or on breaking.

If you notice that it's not like you suddenly loose a water pump or oil pressure where you have to stop immediately and get towed home.

But if it's making that sort of noise all the time it sounds pretty bad. I'd not drive it anywhere other than to a garage

[chas2008]

apart from the obvious dangers as already stated...the longer its left the more damage will be caused the chances are it already has damaged the hub/knuckle/flange and these are not cheap.

I wouldnt ask the 'someones' advice about cars again...not worth the risk..

[dm1982]

a worn wheel bearing wont damage the knuckle or anything else for that matter, all that will happen is that it will get noisier and noisier until it collapses, as stated in previous answers, the chances of the wheel coming off even if it does collapse are extremeley remote to say the least as the cv joint would still be holding the knuckle in place, you should really get it replaced!!

[alan-r]

well it wont get thru the mot