How do you know if you need bearings replaced ? I have a Mazda3 hatchback that does need shocks. I was shown the front left strut is leaking too (es that make sense?). The car has 150,000 miles on it.
Asked by DawninColorado Dec 01, 2015 at 06:54 AM about the 2010 Mazda MAZDA3 s Sport Hatchback
Question type: Maintenance & Repair
Also I am told I have a bent rim (7/10 bad)
What do I fix first?
3 Answers
No easy answer on what to fix first, a bent rim would need to be replaced if it is causing the wheel to shake, which in turn causes stress on the wheel bearings. A bad wheel bearing will make noise, and develop play that you can feel by having the car jacked up and moving the wheel back & forth to check for play. Also a wheel bearing can still be tight but it would start making a growling noise. The struts are on their own, smooths out the bumps you go over, sounds like they are just worn out.
shocks ARE struts- just older-style- don't worry about the bearings- they will start screaming and let you know-
The bent rim will cause the car to vibrate and the bad shocks will cause the car to bounce and ride badly. You really need to fix both as they can be a safety issue. If you can't afford to fix all the struts then fix the worst pair - front or back.
