Bad bearings will affect the alignment of your vehicle and the way your car handles. If your tires are wearing through quickly or unevenly, or your car seems to drift around on the road, a wheel bearing or alignment issue is to blame.

Do I need an alignment after replacing a wheel bearing?

Anytime the steering/suspension system has been taken apart for whatever reason, its always a good idea to have alignment checked. You shouldn't have to have an alignment after a bearing/axle.

Can a bad wheel bearing affect steering?

When the wheel bearing goes bad, you will notice several symptoms. ... Wheel looseness, or also called wheel play, is another common symptom of a bad wheel bearing. As the bearing begins to wear down, they become loose inside the wheel hub and spindle, which makes your vehicle feel loose while steering.