healeys
[Top] [All Lists]

[Healeys] Front wheel bearing query

Subject: [Healeys] Front wheel bearing query
From: bspidell at comcast.net (Bob Spidell)
Date: Sun, 28 Jan 2018 08:33:18 -0800
References: <000001d3984c$efda6480$cf8f2d80$@homecall.co.uk>
Simon,

A few years ago, I had just begun a long road trip in my BJ8 with my 
son.? A hundred or so miles out of town the car developed a loud, 
grinding, 'squeal' at the right front.? Assuming wheel bearing damage, I 
got the right front wheel up on a jack and did the usual testing.? All 
seemed normal, so I got back on the road and the noise, of course, 
resumed.? A few hundred miles down the road the noise stopped.

We continued the trip--probably did 2-3K miles--and when I got home I 
tore into the hub.? Sure enough, that washer with the inner tab had spun 
and turned about 90deg in the direction of forward travel, then stopped 
(the noise was likely from the washer grinding against the inside of the 
hub).? So, yes, the tabs on these washers can shear and the washer can 
rotate.? I don't recall bearing damage, but I likely replaced both wheel 
bearings and associated parts on the car whilst I was in there.? If your 
other bearings were in good nick I think we know what caused the problem 
(it's possible your bad bearing ran dry as well).

I don't know if this was an original part, or it had been replaced by a 
previous owner, but I blame the 'usual suspect:' sub-par aftermarket 
parts manufacture.? Also, I think the torque specification for the big 
castellated nut that holds everything together--IIRC, it's 70lb-ft--is a 
bit specious, as you have to line up a slot on the castellated nut with 
the hole in the axle threads for the cotter (and you'll have no idea 
what the actual, final torque is after you turn the nut to line up with 
the hold). Since my experience, I always torque the snot out of that 
nut; i.e. I torque the nut to nominal or, nearly as tight as I can, then 
put a big breaker bar on it and continue torquing until at least the 
next slot (or the next, or the next ...).? That is a big nut and 'bolt,' 
it would take a gorilla to snap it off or cross-thread.?? I've had no 
similar issue for 100K miles or so, though I just went through my hubs 
again and a couple of the bearings were worn, but had also been run 
dry.? This time, I sprung for (hopefully) better grease:

*https://tinyurl.com/y9ljd69a*

This stuff feels--for lack of a better word--'slipperier' than petroleum 
grease I've used.? I have high hopes for it.

Bob



On 1/28/2018 7:30 AM, simon.lachlan at homecall.co.uk wrote:
>
> Hi,
>
> Some wisdom from the gurus please.
>
> We?re looking at a MKII BT7 here. Disc brakes and wire wheels.
>
> Now, I?ve ?done? bearings before and maybe did this one wrong last time??
>
> So, I took it all apart. No worries.
>
> The outer bearing was completely shot. Surprisingly so as there had 
> been very little movement indeed when moving the wheel once off the 
> ground. And no ?crunchiness? to the rotation. Certainly no noise or 
> panic inducing anything.
>
> I cleaned everything off in white spirit and, once all was pristine 
> and dry, I gave everything a quick look.
>
> See item 4, ?washer?. The tab on mine had broken off in the groove on 
> the hub. Now, I see that this washer is perhaps better called the 
> ?locating washer? when one is looking at the picture for the disc 
> wheel setup.
>
> But I don?t really see what the tab is good for??surely the washer 
> can?t rotate once everything is tightened up, shims in situ etcetc?
>
> Can the washer have been rotating? Surely not? And could the tab?s 
> fracture have anything to do with the condition of my outer bearing?
>
> (The inner bearing seems fine).
>
> And, yes, I will get a new washer and I?m replacing both bearings.
>
> It?s just curiosity really.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Simon
>
>

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: 
<http://autox.team.net/pipermail/healeys/attachments/20180128/fc6b83e1/attachment.html>

<Prev in Thread] Current Thread [Next in Thread>