* Grinding or growling noise: This is the most common symptom. The noise will usually increase with speed and may change pitch depending on the bearing's location and the speed of the rotating component. It might be a constant sound or only present under load (acceleration or braking).
* Whining noise: A high-pitched whine, especially noticeable at higher speeds, often indicates a failing bearing.
* Vibration: You might feel excessive vibration in the steering wheel, the floorboard, or the whole car, especially at certain speeds.
* Roughness: The ride quality may become rougher than usual.
* Play or looseness: Depending on the bearing location, you might be able to detect excessive play or movement in a wheel (wheel bearing) or other rotating component.
Which bearing? The problem could be in several places:
* Wheel bearings: These are most common. Failure usually leads to noise when driving, often increasing with speed, and you may even feel a slight wobble in the steering wheel.
* Alternator bearing: A bad alternator bearing may produce a whining noise, and the alternator might fail altogether.
* Power steering pump bearing: Failure here can result in whining or growling noises from the steering system. There might also be difficulty turning the steering wheel.
* Transmission bearings: Problems here will usually result in noisy operation, possibly with vibrations. This could be more of a rumbling or groaning sound.
How long will it last?
This is impossible to say for sure. A severely damaged bearing might fail quickly (causing a complete component failure). A slightly worn bearing might last for a while longer, but the damage will continue to worsen and could lead to catastrophic failure. Ignoring a bad bearing is very risky, especially with wheel bearings, as a failure could lead to a loss of control and an accident.
Repair cost:
The cost to repair a bad bearing depends entirely *which* bearing has failed. A wheel bearing replacement is generally less expensive than a transmission bearing replacement, for example. It can also vary a lot based on labor rates in your area and whether you're using new or remanufactured parts.
* Wheel bearing: This is likely to be somewhere in the range of $100-$300+ per wheel, including parts and labor. This price can be dramatically higher if you need new hubs or other associated components as well.
* Alternator bearing: Replacing the entire alternator (a more common repair than just the bearing alone) might cost $150 - $400 or more, depending on the alternator.
* Power steering pump bearing: A similar scenario to the alternator; it's often cheaper to replace the whole pump ($200 - $500+) rather than just the bearing.
* Transmission bearing: Repairing a transmission bearing is a very significant job, potentially costing $1000+ or even more, depending on the extent of the damage.
Comparison to water pump or tensioner:
A bad water pump or tensioner is generally less expensive to repair than a severely damaged transmission or other major bearing. However, any of these can quickly escalate in cost if the problem causes further damage to other parts.
Recommendation:
Get your 1993 Ford Tempo inspected by a qualified mechanic as soon as possible. They can diagnose the exact source of the noise and provide an accurate estimate for the repair. Driving with a bad bearing is risky and could lead to more extensive and costly repairs, or even a dangerous situation.
