[Shotimes] Wheel bearing question

[cmichaelo@optonline.net]

Leigh,

As you know, I went through some of that bearing stuff most recently. And thank you for all your help!  

However, as a result I'm now a bit wiser about wheel bearings.

One thing I learned is that the wheel bearing has a two-piece sleeve.  Once you remove the axle nut, these sleeves will tend to move away from each other ON THE HUB (i.e., the axial movement mentioned in Helms) to relieve the pressure exerted on them when the axle nut was in.  

The older the bearing is, the less tight the bearing will sit on the hub, and thus the two pieces may move apart even more with the axle nut off.  As a result you'll see play with the nut off.

For a new bearing though I wouldn't expect to see any looseness in the bearing even with the nub off.  Only after it has been used a lot would I expect to see this.

And yes, the axle nut will tighten things up.

Michael
94MTX,green,BOS+,Koni/Intrax,Baer,Corbeau
SHO items for sale: http://hometown.aol.com/cmichaelo/for_sale.html

----- Original Message -----
From: Leigh Smith <leighsm@comcast.net>
Date: Sunday, August 21, 2005 2:50 pm
Subject: [Shotimes] Wheel bearing question

> Anyone have any experience with wheel bearings?
> Think my wheel bearing is bad?
> It wasn't loose before I pulled the half-shaft but it now appears 
> to have some
> play.
> Has maybe 1/16 - 1/8 in play. With half-shaft out.
> Now I don't remember it having any play before I pulled the half-
> shaft, and I
> just finished checking it for looseness, did all tie-rod ends, 
> alignment,etc.
> Helms says the half-shaft nut tightens things up, "prevents axial 
> movement"Helms says test it with half-shaft in.
> What do you think, any opinions, experience with this??
> Lee
> PS:
> If it's bad, it's easier to change now before I get it all back 
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