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lou's garage

I just drove a truck with a Subaru Tribeca in tow on a car carrier. All the wheels were on the trailer.

When I left Whitehorse, the car was working great, but after getting the car off the carrier in Calgary, I immediately noticed a new growling noise.

As the trailer has an open bed, the bottom of the car was exposed to road debris, so something could have become lodged somewhere under the car. The mechanic's assessment is that both wheel bearings require replacement.

What do you think? – David H

Expansion and contraction of the petroleum-based lubricants within your vehicle's wheel bearing due to the heating/cooling cycle of road-use leads to the need for a tiny vent.

Contemporary wheel bearings are "sealed," but this only indicates that the bearing is not serviceable and must be replaced as a complete unit.

While they are designed to reject as much water and moisture as possible, they are not completely impenetrable.

In your case, I doubt that anything is lodged underneath.

I believe that the vehicle's extended stationary position and exposure to the elements allowed by the open-decked trailer further aggravated units that were likely nearing the end of their serviceable life.

Go with your mechanic's assessment and replace as recommended.

Lou Trottier is owner-operator of All About Imports in Mississauga. Have a question about maintenance and repair? E-mail globedrive@globeandmail.com, placing "Lou's Garage" in the subject area.

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