demolishing wheel bearings

Freediscoranger · Jul 3, 2012

My disco seems to go through wheel bearings like theyre going out of fashion.

replaced last year with timkens had to re tighten at least once a month. finally started to squeek. (granted i never re greased them which is my fault) So ive replaced them again recently with timkens again tightenend them up to remove play etc. checked them this morning by shaking the wheel with the car on the ground and can feel a clunking again... WHY! am i doing something wrong? im definatly not undertightening them cos ive slowy been increasing how hard i tightened the inner nut onto it and they were loose again in two weeks..

all of this is front axle the rear has been fine after replacing 5months ago. i havent been offroad recently just road miles. standard alloys with 265/75 MT's on.

any ideas?

jamesmartin · Jul 3, 2012

are you over tightening ? you just remove play no more by hand ,off roading through **** and water a lot

dellboy1959 · Jul 3, 2012

You don't explain how you re- build the hub up when you replace the bearings but forgive me if it's suck eggs time

When you first fit the hub back on the stub axle tighten the hub nut whilst rotating the hub until you get a decent amount of resistance then back it off.
I would also check the outer races are properly seated as the shoulder can get damaged if someone's been a bit to aggressive with the previous re build.

johnlad · Jul 3, 2012

i found mine didnt last long until i started changing hub seal aswell

Freediscoranger · Jul 3, 2012

replaced the seal as per kit. i fitted the bearings, located the hub on the stub, seated the bearing rotating it and taking up the slack with the hub nut and backing off to make sure theyve seated. then tighten it up till i just remove play then about 1/8th of a turn more since due to the leverage of the wheel can find more play.

if i am over tightening would that make them go loose after about 40 miles driving them at about 60mph?

johnlad · Jul 3, 2012

did you change the races

Freediscoranger · Jul 3, 2012

yep drifted old ones out and new ones in, new locknut as well. bearings packed with grease.

dellboy1959 · Jul 3, 2012

johnlad said:
i found mine didnt last long until i started changing hub seal aswell

Why would you change bearings and not the seals

for what they cost that is madness.

johnlad · Jul 3, 2012

dellboy1959 said:
Why would you change bearings and not the seals for what they cost that is madness.

cos i didnt have any seals and i needed to get it out of the field it was in,

dellboy1959 · Jul 3, 2012

johnlad said:
cos i didnt have any seals and i needed to get it out of the field it was in,

All i can say there then is the bearings that were on there must of totally collapsed or i would of driven it out anyway knackered or not.

jamesmartin · Jul 3, 2012

Freediscoranger said:
replaced the seal as per kit. i fitted the bearings, located the hub on the stub, seated the bearing rotating it and taking up the slack with the hub nut and backing off to make sure theyve seated. then tighten it up till i just remove play then about 1/8th of a turn more since due to the leverage of the wheel can find more play.

if i am over tightening would that make them go loose after about 40 miles driving them at about 60mph?

you dont need the 1/8 of a turn ,when you tighten second nut it adds a little to take care of that ,but that shouldnt be enough to drastically shorten life ,have you a good tool for making sure races are fully home

Freediscoranger · Jul 3, 2012

ive got a hub nut spanner. is there another tool?

johnlad · Jul 3, 2012

dellboy1959 said:
All i can say there then is the bearings that were on there must of totally collapsed or i would of driven it out anyway knackered or not.

yeah, fell apart when removed,thats what happens when you run simex tyres, you cant always hear the warning signs

bertiemje · Jul 16, 2012

They tend to just give up with them on😞

thebiglad · Jul 16, 2012

Freediscoranger said:
replaced the seal as per kit. i fitted the bearings, located the hub on the stub, seated the bearing rotating it and taking up the slack with the hub nut and backing off to make sure theyve seated. then tighten it up till i just remove play then about 1/8th of a turn more since due to the leverage of the wheel can find more play.

if i am over tightening would that make them go loose after about 40 miles driving them at about 60mph?

Are you sure that the play you can feel is from the wheel bearing and not the swivel bearing?

Freediscoranger · Jul 16, 2012

Thought of that. It could eliminate the play by tightening the wheel bearing. Can't spot any play in the swivel or grease lost through the seal.

On and they've gone slightly loose again after driving too and from Devon after only just taking the slack out before leaving. No over tightening

Soloby Rob · Jul 16, 2012

Just a thought, when you drift or press the outer races in I hope you're not using the centre race to do it cos that'll bugger em up for sure.

Freediscoranger · Jul 16, 2012

Do you mean hammering in the outer race by hitting the bearing itself with a hammer? If so no. If not explain

jamesmartin · Jul 16, 2012

outer race must be fitted with a suitable tool,a punch will damage races even though you cant see it but you can feel it if inner is pressed in and turned

robint · Jul 16, 2012

jamesmartin said:
outer race must be fitted with a suitable tool,

like an old same size race by any chance

demolishing wheel bearings

Active Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Active Member

Well-Known Member

Active Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Active Member

Well-Known Member

Member

Well-Known Member

Active Member

Banned

Active Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Similar threads