Front Wheel Play after fitting new Wheel Bearings

Discussion in 'Mech Tech' started by SeanOC, Aug 25, 2020.

  1. So: new wheel bearings fitted to both sides. All re-assembled and Brakes bled. Test drive went fine.

    The only thing is that although I didn’t tighten up the split nuts very tightly (as per instructions) I cannot detect any play/rock when I try to rock the wheel (6/12 or 3/9) while jacked off the ground.

    Do I have to loosen it up a bit or just leave it alone?

    I’m going to the lakes next week so don’t want anything getting too hot!


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
  2. Sounds like you've got it right Sean , should be able to spin the wheel freely without any play.
    Lots of grease !!

    Sent from my SM-G960F using Tapatalk
     
    SeanOC likes this.
  3. Zed

    Zed Gradually getting grumpier

    There's a feeler gauge spec for this...which always seems a bit loose to me so I tighten to the "washer will just move without prying" spec.
     
    nicktuft, SeanOC, Dubs and 1 other person like this.
  4. 77 Westy

    77 Westy Supporter

    This^, the split nuts should not be tight. If they are too tight, or there is too much grease, the bearing will overheat.
     
    nicktuft, SeanOC and Dubs like this.
  5. Looks like I will take the caps off n check.

    More grease


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
  6. 77 Westy

    77 Westy Supporter

    But not too much, that’s as bad as not enough.
     
    Zed and snotty like this.
  7. Zed

    Zed Gradually getting grumpier

    Joy of joys replacing rear wheel bearings where someone has spooned in a mug full of grease that just sits there doing nothing. :)
     
    davidoft likes this.
  8. Why do people do that? Always mystified me. Stuffing half a tub of grease into the wheel hub serves no useful purpose whatsoever. It doesn't go anywhere.

    Re the front bearings: if you can push the big washer up and down with light force on a screwdriver, they're correct (according to a VW pic I can't find). From memory, the gap between the washer and nut should be 4 - 5 thou. As above, doing them up too tight is probably worse than too loose, as taper bearings are quite keen to destroy themselves.
     
  9. mikedjames

    mikedjames Supporter

    I think the rear wheel idea is that if there is loads of grease around and it gets hot, some of it obliges by melting and running into the overheating bearing.

    Bentley Transmission and Rear Axle Page 62 Paragraph 4. "Fill the housing with multipurpose grease until the spacer sleeve can just be inserted"
     
    Zed and Faust like this.
  10. Faust

    Faust Supporter

    Certainly used to be done on trucks .
     
  11. But...high temp grease won't melt.
     
  12. mikedjames

    mikedjames Supporter

    It doesnt say high temperature , it just says general purpose. And it will melt as the metal gets hot enough to start softening.

    It is also obvious on a bearing which has burnt out that the grease around it goes brown with oxidised metal , which is suspended in the grease within a few mm of the bearing.
     

Share This Page