Saab Wheel Bearing Kit - Vaico 8973406

Product Information

Wheel bearings support the vehicle's weight and reduce rotational friction, located within the wheel hub/spindle. European car manufacturers typically use three types of wheel bearings: unsealed, sealed press-in, and wheel bearing/hub assemblies.

Unsealed bearings, common in pre-1990 cars, require regular greasing, while sealed bearings, used from the 1990s onward, are maintenance-free and must be replaced when worn. The most modern approach integrates the wheel bearing into the hub assembly, simplifying replacement by bolting in a new unit.

Signs of failure include a grinding noise, which worsens over time. Diagnosing involves lifting the car to check for wheel play and noise. Replacement processes differ: unsealed bearings need cleaning and proper alignment, sealed bearings require pressing out, and hub assemblies are straightforward to unbolt and replace. Correct torque application is vital for all types to prevent premature failure.

• Grinding or growling: A bad wheel bearing will first reveal itself by making a growling or grinding noise when unloaded, IE if turning right, the right side will make noise. Eventually, as it gets worse, so will the sound until it’s replaced
• Play in the wheel: With the wheel off the ground, you will detect play from a worn wheel bearing. This is because the internal bearings have worn away and are no longer perfectly tight.
• Vibration or wobble: While much less frequent, if a wheel bearing is very bad or has an excessive amount of play in it, it will cause issues with the vehicle's handling, including vibration or wobble noticeably through the steering wheel.
• Uneven Tire Wear: A faulty Wheel Bearing can adversely affect tire wear and cause uneven wear across the tire contact patch.
• ABS warning light: If you are chasing an ABS issue and you have sorted out the sensors, it’s not impossible that damage has occurred to the ABS tone ring inside of the wheel bearing. If you have a single corner fault but the ABS sensor checks out, replace the wheel bearing and in turn the tone ring.

About Vaico

VAICO premium brand is well known for smart repair solutions for engine and transmission parts on the global independent aftermarket. With over 28,000 high-quality spare parts and 2,700,000 vehicle connections, we guarantee a high level of vehicle coverage: our extensive range of transmission components and spare parts for air control systems and engine control covers a wide range of models. Our professional vehicle repair range also includes further products from the cooling, steering, brakes, body and filter categories, as well as certified “Made in Germany” fluids.

VAICO specializes in providing innovative repair solutions put together by our experts for every workshop: VAICO Expert Kits+ make it easier to identify and procure parts and also reduce the storage capacity needed. The service-orientated Expert Kits+ are easy to install and meet the highest standard of installation safety – and save time and money.