Suspension Noise & Tire Wear

Worn Wheel Bearing Effect on ABS and Tire Wear

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A worn wheel bearing does not just make noise. It damages the ABS sensor ring, ruins the tires and affects the brake system. The ABS light coming on is often the first sign that the bearing is badly worn, and by then the tire may already be cupped. Catching the bearing early saves the ABS sensor and a set of tires.

What the driver feels

  1. The ABS light flickering on and off.
  2. A humming noise from one wheel.
  3. Play in the wheel when rocked on a lift.
  4. Cupping or scalloping on one tire.
  5. A warm hub after a drive.
  6. A vibration through the floor at speed.
  7. Tire wear that is worse on one corner.
  8. A noise that changes when turning.

How the bearing affects other systems

The ABS sensor reads the tone ring on the hub. On a Toyota Camry or Honda Accord, the wheel speed sensor sits next to a notched ring on the hub, and it reads the notches to determine wheel speed. When the bearing wears, the hub wobbles, and the tone ring no longer sits concentric. The sensor reads an erratic signal, and the ABS light comes on.

The play also ruins the tires. On a Ford F-150 or Chevrolet Silverado, a worn bearing lets the wheel wobble at 12 and 6 o’clock. That wobble makes the tire skip and hop on the road, which polishes the tread into a cup or scallop pattern. The cupping makes a droning noise that sounds like the bearing itself, and it only gets worse until the tire is replaced.

Checking the damage

  • If the ABS light is on, read the code to see which wheel speed sensor is reporting.
  • Inspect the tone ring on the hub for damaged or missing teeth.
  • Look at the tires for cupping or scalloped wear, especially on one corner.
  • Check the wheel for play at 12 and 6 o’clock on a lift.
  • Feel the hub temperature after a long drive.
  • Safety note: Cupped tires are noisy and reduce grip, especially in wet weather. Replace them once the bearing is fixed.
  • Check the ABS sensor itself for corrosion or damage, because the sensor can also fail independently.
  • Compare left and right: the cupped, noisy, loose corner is the bad bearing.

Fixing the damage

  • Replace the worn bearing or hub assembly first, before fixing the ABS or tires.
  • If the tone ring is damaged, replace the whole hub assembly, because the ring is integrated.
  • Replace the ABS sensor if it is corroded or damaged.
  • Replace cupped tires, because the internal cord damage cannot be balanced out.
  • After the repair, test drive and confirm the ABS light stays off.

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