first of all a very happy belated new year to everyone. so, the noise that i had been complaining about (which i thought could have been the tires) but i was pretty sure were wheel bearings turned out to be wheel bearings! replaced two rear wheel bearings and the car sounds great now. it feels weird now because i think i got used to that noise lol.

 

anyways, if you don't hit anything how do wheel bearings go bad? just age/water getting into them?

 

i think its just age.

 

Just wear and tear over time. Friction kills all mechanical things given long enough, even with good lubrication.