The SUVs of today might have more of a crossover-like appearance but they're still the big and powerful vehicles we all know. The same goes for the GU Patrol which may not be your everyday cruiser but it has the same characteristics coupled with a more capable chassis. When it comes to off-roading Nissan's ultimate path-beater is made to be a lot safer than a family SUV.
It's also able to get even better traction even when on an incline. While it's not going to be as comfortable as a regular SUV, the GU Patrol is going to help save you from getting bogged down aS it keeps all your tyres spinning only when they should. For this to be the case though you need to have your Patrol's wheel bearings in good shape.
What Matters in Wheel Bearings
Material
There are two types of materials wheel bearings come from and they are usually either stainless steel or ceramic bearings. A stainless steel GU wheel bearing set will definitely cost you a lot less than a ceramic one but it will also be less performance oriented. This is because ceramic GU Patrol wheel bearings are able to reduce rolling resistance far better. They are also more durable than stainless steel bearings but not ideal when it comes to your daily commute.
Compatibility
In the same way, wheels themselves come in different sizes, wheel bearings too are available in different sizes. Make sure that no matter what size wheels your Patrol has, the bearings you get are going to fit them and are going to be able to have the right load-carrying capacity.
Kit vs Individual Bearings
When searching for GU Patrol wheel bearings, there are two solutions you'll come across. This will be to either go for a kit or for individual GU Patrol wheel bearings. A kit provides you with all the bearings and also the hardware needed to install them while going for individual bearings is going to be less convenient but more affordable.
Types of Wheel Bearings
Ball
The most common type of GU wheel bearing you'll come across is going to be a ball bearing. This type of GU Patrol wheel bearing has, as you'd expect, metal balls placed in the race. This makes for a set of bearings that can withstand both radial and axial loads quite well. Heavy shocks and impacts are not taken well by ball bearings though.
Roller
With roller bearings, you get a solution that makes use of cylinders known as rollers which are enclosed by the inner and outer races. Since the rollers maintain a constant diameter across their whole length they make for a better option when it comes to spreading a radial load. This makes them great for heavy thrust loads and heavy-duty applications.
Tapered Roller
Tapered roller bearings are a more advanced version of regular roller bearings. This is because the rollers inside are placed at an angle. This makes them great at bearings axial and radial loads while offering smooth operation and they reduce grinding too.
When to Replace Wheel Bearings
Noises
When you hear any irregular noises such as grinding, whirring, rumbling, clicking or humming coming from the wheels it can be because the wheel bearings are failing. While that isn't always the case, there is still a high chance of it being the case especially if you've driven your Patrol without replacing the bearings for a long time.
Lock
Although the bearings on today's vehicles are sealed, they can still cause the wheels to lock up. This rarely happens but when it does it's because dirt and grime have entered the bearings, meaning they have mechanical damage.
Vibrations
In case there is a broken or loose GU Patrol wheel bearing seal, contaminants can get through and thus you will feel vibrations coming from the bearings. But this can also signify a worn-down bearing however in both situations you'll need new bearings.
Wear
Wear can also happen on the tyres themselves but not only because you've had them for a long time. Especially if it's uneven tyre wear it can mean that the balls or rollers have started to loosen up and thus causing the tyres to wear out on one side.
Pulling
Your Patrol will pull to one side quite a bit when there is a faulty wheel bearing. Even if there is a problem on one side your car will still pull to one side which is going to be noticeable when you're driving in a straight line.
Braking
Although the braking system is not affected by the wheel bearing, a degraded one can cause your Patrol to stop completely. But this will only happen if you let your faulty bearings stay on for a while.
ABS
The anti-lock braking system on your GU Patrol or traction control can malfunction just because you had a worn-out bearing or two. Other driver-assistance systems can also act up which is why replacing your bearings on time is critical.
