How do I know whether my Porsche’s wheel bearings need replacing?

The wheel bearings on modern Porsches should last at least 100,000 miles if the car is only used in normal road conditions. However, track use and performance upgrades that give extra power both have the potential to shorten the life of wheel bearings. Early failures are rare, but as wheel bearing problems can cause expensive axle damage, it is a good idea to know what the signs are and keep an eye out for them.

In most cases, the first sign is uneven tyre wear caused by the bearings becoming slightly looser and allowing the wheels to wobble very slightly – although typically not enough for the driver to feel it. There are several other possible causes of uneven tyre wear, but it is worth checking the wheel bearings if you have problems with the rubber on your Porsche.

The other telltale sign is a deep-sounding hum or a hollow-sounding echo coming from the bearings, particularly at speeds above 40mph. This is sometimes accompanied by some pull on the steering wheel. At this stage, there is no alternative but to replace the bearings.