The short answer is, "Not very long."

If you have a bad wheel bearing, it's important to get it replaced. It's not just a matter of safety; it also could be expensive.

How much longer can you drive on a bad wheel bearing? That depends on your driving conditions and how much weight your vehicle is carrying. For example, if you're driving on smooth roads at low speeds, the problem might not show up for some time. But if you're driving over rough terrain or in heavy traffic, the problem will likely appear sooner.

The longer you wait to replace the bad wheel bearings, the more likely it is that one or both wheels will fail completely — and maybe even crash into each other!

A wheel bearing is a component of your vehicle's wheel and tire assembly.

A wheel bearing is a component of your vehicle's wheel and tire assembly. It is the interface between the axle hub, brake drum or disc, and the wheel. The purpose of a wheel bearing is to allow the wheel to turn freely without excessive play or vibration.

The main function of a wheel bearing is to enable smooth rotation of the wheels. This function is crucial because it allows you to steer your vehicle as well as make turns and other maneuvers safely. Wheel bearings also help reduce premature wear on other components such as tires and suspension systems by distributing the load evenly over several parts rather than concentrating it on one point.

Metric wheel bearings have been around since the early 1920s and came into widespread use during the 1950s.

The main advantage of metric bearings is that they do not use an inch tapered bearing race with an inch bore, like those found in American-made vehicles. Instead, metric bearings use a constant size bore throughout the entire length of the bearing. This means that the bearing can be manufactured more accurately and to tighter tolerances than in inch sized bearings. The result is that you get a better quality product that lasts longer than an inch sized bearing would. In addition, metric wheel bearings are designed for more abuse than their American counterparts.

Metric bearings are also lighter weight than their inch counterparts by as much as 20% (depending on size), which means less rotating mass for your wheels and tires to carry around at highway speeds or while cornering hard in a race car or sports car.

The axle shaft runs through the hub, which has inner and outer bearings attached to it.

The inner bearing is pressed onto the axle shaft and held in place by two or more bolts. The outer bearing is housed in a bracket that attaches to the wheel hub.

The bearings allow the wheels to rotate smoothly without friction from contact with other parts of the car's suspension system. The rear wheels also have an anti-roll bar, which connects them with each other and provides resistance to any movement that would otherwise cause them to roll over too much when cornering.

The shocks are connected to the chassis by means of arms that pivot at joints called "lower control arms." These have ball joints at each end so they can move up and down as well as side-to-side. They're also connected by a control arm at each end that pivots at another ball joint near its center point.

A bad wheel bearing can be caused by a variety of factors, including time, wear and tear, water damage or exposure to extreme temperatures.

Over time, the grease that lubricates the bearing can dry up and become sticky. This causes friction between the axle shaft and the hub on which the wheel sits — which means there's less force from your engine pushing against the ground when you accelerate or brake. This causes an imbalance in the steering and makes it difficult for you to control your vehicle while driving.

If water gets into the bearings during use (such as rain or snow), they may rust over time. Rusting prevents proper lubrication of this part of your car's suspension system — which leads to premature failure of the bearings themselves.

Extreme temperatures also pose a problem for ball joints and other suspension components that rely on grease for lubrication purposes; if they're exposed to heat for too long.

Wheel bearings help to keep your car moving smoothly down the road.

They allow for rotation of the wheels without friction, and are important for steering and suspension components.

Wheel bearings are made of metal or plastic and work by using a rolling element to reduce friction between an axle shaft and a hub. They're constructed with at least two parts: the inner race, which is attached to the axle shaft, and the outer race, which is attached to the hub.

When you turn your steering wheel, fluid pressure from your power steering pump presses against the cup seals in each bearing and pushes out all of the grease inside them. This allows them to turn freely while they maintain their center position on each side of your vehicle's chassis.

How long you can drive on a bad wheel bearing will vary from car to car, but in general, it should be fine to drive for about 50 to 150 miles, if you detect the problem when it first occurs.

If you think a wheel bearing is bad, you should have it inspected. The problem will not go away on its own, and driving on a bad wheel bearing can damage the other components of your vehicle.

How long you can drive on a bad wheel bearing will vary from car to car, but in general, it should be fine to drive for about 50 to 150 miles, if you detect the problem when it first occurs.

If you are driving on a bad wheel bearing and the noise is getting louder or more frequent, stop driving immediately and have the problem inspected.

If your vehicle has more than one bad wheel bearing, then you will likely hear more than one noise. If this is the case with your car, it may be best to take it directly to an auto shop instead of trying to fix it yourself.

If your wheel bearing is worn out and goes unrepaired for too long of a time, it can cause problems with other parts of your vehicle which may require more costly repairs down the road.

Worn out wheel bearings can cause excessive vibration, which may lead to cracks in the steering linkage or even steering failure.

A worn out wheel bearing can also cause the steering rod to bend or break, which is very dangerous and could require major repairs.

If your car is making a loud humming noise when you're driving, this can be an indication that you have a problem with your wheel bearing. The noise will get louder as you press on the gas pedal or brake pedal because there's more pressure on the axle shafts when you do this.

When dealing with a bad wheel bearing, the lifespan of your drivetrain will likely be a major concern. Now, it's definitely possible that you can successfully drive your car or truck on a damaged wheel bearing for hundreds of miles. However, as any experienced mechanic will tell you, removing the faulty bearing soon is usually the best option. The extreme heat and stress that a bad bearing places on your driveshaft and other components has led many people to prematurely replace perfectly good parts because they assumed that the damage was severe. Plus, the sooner you remove the faulty bearing and replace it with a new one, the lower your chances are of ending up with an even more expensive repair job down the road because of additional damage caused by the bad bearing.