Bearings way out of adjustment

matt · February 10, 2009, 08:26:55 PM

Well, on my way home, heard a humming sound coming from the front as I would steer left.
Sounded like bearings, so when I got home, checked out the fronts, found the passenger side bearing was way out of adjustment. Took half of a revolution to get it within spec.s shocked The other side just took a fair bit of a turn of the nut, - not as bad but was still more than I liked.

What cause a bearing to go that far out of adjustment? Guess I am soon in need to replace these bearings = hate that job :icon_evil: Just wondered what physically happens to the bearing - cant imagine it is seating that much father into the race. but then again maybe even a half of a turn doesent move the bearing into the race too much 888

Got disc brakes, so I think I have to order Ghia bearings....doubt they are the same as waht goes into a super drum

Matt

lovebus (jack) · February 10, 2009, 08:30:16 PM

Why replace them if they stoped making noise after the adjustment? Was the screw tight when you went to adjust them.

matt · February 10, 2009, 08:37:48 PM

What a quick response!

Did not drive the car yet as I had a lot going on tonight uh....... &&&& - ( i wish) - but beleive it to be ok.

Was not sure if I need bearings... just with them being that far out...was wondering if they were soon to be shot. Was humming a little for a while ( thought it was my tire) but today they were humming quite loud so did the operation. yea, more driving will tell me how they are.

When the weather gets good, I'll repack the bearings- been about 4 years.... :icon_confused:

Matt

6T5 square · February 11, 2009, 05:31:33 AM

Being into early metal, I have to ask the same question as Jack- how did the nut loosen up? How are the nuts locked in? Is it the old nut on top of another nut? Is it a washer with bent up tabs? Usually a bearing that loosens up like that, unless it has fallen apart, will not loosen up. It's usually the nut that holds it down that is the issue. A fried bearing will sound like steel rolling over gravel- more of a crunching noise when they go.

matt · February 11, 2009, 06:39:07 PM

yea, fortunately the bearing was not making any grinding noise - and today sounded smooth as ever ;D.

As far as I can tell the screw (nut) was tight, unless the screw being mentioned is the allen wrench head bolt.
That seemed tight, but not real, real tight.

This is my super John, and the outer bearing placed around the spindle, gets tightened down - or pushed in by a washer at its back. the washer is pushed in by a big split nut which spins on the threaded spindle. The split portion of the nut is threaded through and has a hex-head bolt going through it.Once the bearing is adjusted to where it should be by turning the nut, you lock the nut by tightening the the allen-headed screw which pulls the split nut to be less split and this clamps the split nut to the spindle.

- if this is what you were asking............

Matt

Daverted · February 11, 2009, 06:47:47 PM

Matt, I would at least clean and repack. This gives you a chance to see if thwere is any bluing. If the roller is not fully riding on the taper, you could get some rolling of the race or some uneven wear on the tapered roller. I would clean and repack just to be safe, then double check your locking device on th spindle. just my 2CENTS

matt · February 11, 2009, 07:36:03 PM

Thanks Dave, good idea - esp to check the blue-ing.

Better safe than sorry, I'll check them out and repack.
Pain about doing it with discs, is you have to open the brake line system. - unscrew the line from the caliper to lift it away from the rotor, which then makes you bleed the brakes
>:(

Matt

Daverted · February 11, 2009, 08:38:06 PM

Better then having them fail s#r

matt · February 12, 2009, 06:15:59 PM

Yea, once had my front bearings go while I was in Virginia, it was about 11:00 at night.
Had to have my wife drive all the way down there to pick me up, called a tow truck and drove all the way down there again to pick it up.

Now I carry extra bearings, the allen wrench, adjustable wrench and grease.

I'm ready now!

- though I guess I could not remove the races, just the bearings, but that would be enough to get me home I'm sure.

njgt-1 · February 12, 2009, 08:22:17 PM

Matt,

watch out for those allen screws, had one break on the 72 last year. It wasn't super tight or anything but I think the metal can just fatigue after so many years.

matt · February 15, 2009, 10:17:57 AM

Thanks for that Bob, never considered that. The allen bolt is ok though.
Fri when driving home, I heard the humming again. So yesterday I checked the bearing again, the nut did not move ( I remembered where I turned it last) but the bearing again was pretty loose.

So I thought it was nearing its end.

I pulled the outer bearing race, and it looked fine until I felt 1-3 rollers were very roughed up.

So I changed out all of the bearings yesterday, and did photos of much of the steps until things got too greasy. :icon_tongue:

I'll post them soon

Adjusting the bearings, I tightended down the nut to the washer, to seat them, backed the nut off..and adusted the nut till the washer could just be moved by prying, then a hair less tight. What was strange to me, is that the wheel when spinninng it was tight...I would spin the wheel and it would not rotate much- bout 1/2 rev. Thought with a turn of the tire, it would easily spin and spin and spin. Cant remember what to expect - been about 5 years since I did one, and probably 5 or more years before that for my previous one.. Guess if things are seating wrong, I'll know soon! :icon_wink:

Matt