How far can I drive with a bad wheel bearing?
Main thing is - get it fixed PDQ (pretty darn quick). Driving with a bad wheel bearing can cause the axle/hub/spindle to weld itself from friction and heat causing the wheel to lock up and spin you out. More likely, the metal will wear away from the friction and the wheel/hub will become loose. If the affected wheel has a disc brake, the brake caliper and rotor might hold the wheel onto the axle for a while, but will eventually fail too.I drove a car I had just bought in a different state about 2,000 miles (3,200 Km) to get back home. The front wheel bearings were whining the whole time, but the wheels were still fairly tight (negligible play). One of the first things I ordered upon arriving home was a new set of wheel bearings.If you jack up the vehicle and there is any play (i.e.: slackness or wiggle) in the affected wheel(s), don't drive the vehicle because you might just get overtaken by your own wheel (no longer attached to & supporting the vehicle) while driving down the road. Any play in the wheel could also be caused by worn suspension and/or steering components which should also be replaced PDQ (and a wheel alignment done post repair). Again, this could cause a wheel to come out from under the vehicle and/or point in a different direction and cause you to have a wreck.Get it fixed posthaste.<><
Why does the steering wheel lock up while driving?
What Causes the Steering Wheel to Lock Up? | eHow Losing control of your car's steering is a terrifying experience, one that can lead to a crash with horrific consequences. If this happens to you, then you must try to bring your vehicle to a stop at once and determine the cause of steering wheel lock-up before you drive your car again. There are a number of reasons why your car's steering has suddenly locked up including:Key MechanismNot every steering wheel problem occurs when you have the transmission engaged and are heading down the road. Sometimes, drivers report that their steering wheel stays locked even after inserting the key into the ignition. When that happens, the car probably cannot be started let alone driven. More than likely the key assembly has worn out and needs to be replaced. However, before calling your auto mechanic, try to move the wheels to the left and to the right as sometimes the steering column "catches," a problem that can be resolved if you jiggle the wheel.Lock PinGeneral Motors issued a pair of recalls for the C5 Chevrolet Corvette (1997-2004 models) due to problems with locked steering. In addition to being locked while starting, owners complained that in some cases their cars could be driven but with no control of steering. This problem is due to a lock pin that fails to withdraw fully, allowing contact between the pin and lock plate. Visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA ) website (see Resources) for information about recalls #04006B and #04006C or call your Chevrolet dealer.ConclusionWhile the three causes mentioned here are among the top reasons why a steering wheel may lock up, there could be other reasons. Contact an auto mechanic for assistance, or if you are handy with repairs, consult a Haynes or Chilton repair manual (or anything similar) for guidance.
What are reasons your steering wheel won't lock?
I assume that you are referring to your steering wheel not locking in position after you stop the vehicle and take out the key?There are several possible reasons for this.1. The cog that fits into the detent on the steering column is broken and needs to be replaced.2. The detent on the steering column is worn or broken3. You have not turned the wheel far enough for the cog to find a detent. Pull the wheel first to the left, and then to the right to find the spot.4. The actuator from the solenoid to the cog is broken.To repair this will require the cover on the steering column to be removed, and probably need to have the steering wheel removed as well. Take it to a qualified shop or dealer for this. Incorrect actions could result in damage to the parts, or even the deployment of the air bag on the steering wheel. The exact disassembly required will differ for each manufacturer and possible model of vehicle. If you have a Chilton's manual for your vehicle, you can look up the repair to see what is involve.
1997 Ford f-150 Rear brakes locking up?
it could be an untrue drum which you can get turned or you could try to bleed the brakes. also your master cylinder may be pushing too much pressure. I would say first bleed the brakes all around(front and back) if that doesn't help then turn or replace drums, any other info needed e-mail me lilmikewhatitdo@yahoo.com subject it mechanic or such.Can't really tell you for sure without seeing or driving it.
How long does it take to replace a wheel bearing?
How long does it take to replace a wheel bearing?To get to and replace a wheel bearing on one wheel on a car or light truck is probably less than a 1 hour job in most cases for someone who knows what they are doing and does this kind of work regularly. They will have the correct parts, the tools, the right lift, a well lighted and roomy place to work. All of his tools will be the correct tools for the job and he will know where all of his tools are.If he gets in there and finds damage to the hub, it will take longer. For one thing, he probably won’t have a new hub handy and will have to see if the local parts shop has one in stock. If they don’t, then they will have to get one from their warehouse, which could take a day if they have it in stock. Then more time, if they have to bring it in. If you have a common vehicle, the parts should be in stock at the distribution warehouse. Depending on where the vehicle is, this could take a day or two to come in. Faster parts availability if your car is in Chicago vs a little town in NW Montana.Even if there is damage to the hub, the extra time to replace the hub is minimal. The time to get parts could be days if the car is not common. A hub for a Ford Crown Victoria is going to be readily available in most places and could be overnighted to just about anywhere in the US. A hub for a 959 Porsche, a Ford GT, or a DeLorean is going to take longer to source.
What is overdrive and how should I choose between putting my car in drive or overdrive?
All the answers here are good for describing what overdrive does, but don't really give examples as to when you should use or not use overdrive.Most have said overdrive is good for highway use to reduce the RPM's of the engine and therefore conserving fuel. This is true as that is what it was designed to do.Additionally, overdrive would be safer in slippery situations where ice or wet roads may be a factor as the drive wheels would be much less likely to see a sudden acceleration from loss of grip.However, when do you not want to use overdrive?A good rule of thumb for this situation is to compare it to situations where you would find it beneficial to down shift in a manual transmission.These may include:When you are preparing to switch from a slower moving lane of traffic to a faster lane. Passing. Extended downhill grades, to prevent having to ride the brakes.Extended uphill grades to maintain power Hills when you are having trouble maintaining speed.Curvy roads where engine braking would be beneficial.TowingHopefully this helps.
Why front right brake and left rear brake sticks on 1999 F-150 Truck 4x4?
99 f-150 has whats call a proportioning valve it controls flow from the master cylinder to the brakes if equiped with abs it should be before the hcu check the drivers side frame rail more than likely the valve is frozen inside the reason brakes a crossed like that is so that if you loose brake pressure on one side you will still have brakes on two wheels to help slow you down
I have a 1993 Ford F-150 and my ABS light is staying on. I checked my fuses and none are blown. I need advice.
As for the brakes not working, that is not true. The ABS system will probably not function but the Basic system will function as all cars with hydraulic brakes have since the dawn of hydraulic brakes. ABS is an adjunct system for safety. As for the light, The ABS system is automatically diagnosed every time you start your truck and continuously while driving. The pads may have built in sensor that is basically a wire that goes to ground when the pad wears thin enough for the sensor to touch the rotor. There may also be wheel speed sensor rings which are just little slotted rings that may be dirty. There may be a fuse blown? There may be a loose or corroded wire. (Brake fluid will strip wire given enough time). Worst case scenario though is the ABS pump which is that machined aluminum box that has the brake lines going into it along with a set of wires. That box houses a pump that oscillates the brake pressure when you press on the pedal. Your brakes will continue to work but they won't be as safe as with ABS. Little side note, my friends in the upper midwest pull the ABS fuse in the snow because it actually gives them a bit more control. Newer systems excluded due to Traction Control working with ABS.
What can happen to your vehicle when your brake fluid is too low?
Hey Sharon,When your brake fluid is too low you may be in trouble because your car won’t slow down or stop as well as before. You see brake fluid is kind of like a “steel rod” connecting your foot to the brakes. I say steel because brake fluid doesn’t compress so when you press on it it moves just like it is a solid.Brake fluid is incompressible and used to transmit your foot pressure on the brake pedal through the master cylinder to the brake calipers in order to press the pads against the discs. Your foot pressure is multiplied by the mechanical advantage from the pedal (ratio) and the hydraulic ratio of the master cylinders, power booster and caliper pistons (where the brake pads live).Image: BrakesHow does brake fluid get low?It canBrake system uses more fluid volume as pads wearFluid boils, getting bubbles in the line.Lines, master cylinder, or calipers leakSince you said too low, if your brakes are working okay add the DOT brake fluid your manufacturer recommends and take your car to a brake shop to have them checked. A little low is maintenance, too low is not and needs some professional TLC.Regards and take care.
Chevy S10: BRAKE (!) (P) light staying on?
Alright. So I have a 1995 S10. 4.3 Vortec, Automatic tranny. I've had the truck a year now and ever since I bought it last September, the "BRAKE (!) (P)" light has been on. All the time, not every now and then. The emergency brake works perfect, the brakes work perfect. I just recently changed the passenger side rear wheel cylinder because it was leaking. I was hoping that would make it go off, but I reset the computer and it didn't go off. I've read in some places there is a connector near the reservoir with a tan wire that I can disconnect and it should go off, I found one, but the wire is red and when I disconnect it, nothing happens. There is no other connector, unless that tan line is tied into the connectors on the brake module. The reservoir doesn't have a float in it at all, that could be it? The guy who had it before me gave me a new ABS Brake module and said that replacing that should fix it. Before I do all of that painstaking work, is there anything else it could be? I need help! My inspection is up this month, I have 5 days to get this dumb light off!