How do I know when my wheel bearings are about to fail?

The most reliable early warning is a grinding or humming noise that gets louder when you turn the steering wheel in one direction - that's usually the bad bearing on the outside of the turn. You might also feel subtle vibration in the steering wheel or brake pedal, though that's easier to miss. If you catch it at the noise stage, you've got time to schedule service; wait until there's serious vibration and you risk the wheel locking up or worse, so don't ignore it.

Listen for a grinding or humming noise that gets louder as you speed up - that's usually the first sign something's wrong. You might also feel a slight vibration in the steering wheel or brake pedal, or notice the car pulling to one side. Does the noise change depending on which direction you're turning, or is it constant? That detail matters because it can help narrow down which bearing's failing.