Wheel Hubs & bearings for Dodge Grand Caravan

Dodge Grand Caravan Wheel Bearings and Hubs

You have a lot riding on the wheels of your Grand Caravan. This makes maintaining your vehicle of utmost importance. One part you will need to maintain and possibly replace over time is the assembly for the wheel bearings and hubs.

What is a hub assembly?

A hub assembly is a single metal piece that includes your hub, wheel bearings, speed ABS sensor, and a mounting flange for installation. Having all of these parts put together helps decrease installation mistakes that can lead to premature failure of any of these pieces. The axles and steering knuckles are connected to the wheels with the front hubs. They support the weight of your Grand Caravan and aid in turning. Front wheel bearings connect the front axles to the front wheels. They help with turning the wheels smoothly and are located in the center of the hub. The axle fits into the wheel bearing directly to turn the bearing, which then turns the hub. Lug nuts hold the tire and brake rotor to the hub, allowing it to turn. Because of this setup, you can accelerate or decelerate your Dodge.

What causes wheel bearing assembly failure in a Grand Caravan?

Hub assembly failures can be attributed to many different factors. However, here are a few of the most common ones:

  • Improper installation: When a wheel bearing assembly is not installed correctly, it will cause unnecessary wear and tear. In order to get the most use out of your hub assemblies, it is important to make sure they are installed correctly.
  • Broken seals: If the wheel bearing seals break, they will let in dirt, road debris, and moisture. These are all things that can cause problems inside the hub assembly.
  • Age: Although they have a long life span, these assemblies do not last forever. In most cases, you will get 85,000 to 100,000 miles out of these parts. Some may get as much as 150,000 miles. You can increase the life span of these parts by providing regular maintenance for your Grand Caravan.
  • Normal wear and tear: Even with optimal care and maintenance, hub assemblies are not immune to normal wear and tear problems.
How do you maintain your wheel bearings and hubs?

You should check your hub assemblies about every 25,000 to 30,000 miles. You will want to look at them to make sure there is no breakdown. You will also want to apply grease to decrease the friction they are exposed to; however, be sure to use a grease that is formulated for high temperatures.

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