tires and wheels Right/pax front bearing is worn for the 3rd time

[Koblenz]

I have no idea what the problem is.  The bearings have been replaced 3 times.  This will make my 4th.  The struts are brand new. Both were "miked" and measured the same.

 

What within the front end would cause this?

Edited June 13, 2015 by Koblenz

[Simeon]

Are you packing them with grease correctly?

Do you have wheels with an unusual offset?

[Buckeye]

+1 on grease question.

1). Should use disc brake grease

2). Wheel bearing grease (hub) - 50 g (1.8 oz)

3). Grease cap - 20 g (0.7 oz)

[Koblenz]

Packing is correct.  Offset is 20.  Is there a suspension/linkage connection.  Most bushing have been changed.

[M3M3]

Sounds like they are not being adjusted correctly. Those things don't wear out like that. How, and how often, are they being adjusted?

How are you defining "worn out"?

[bmwfan]

+2 on adjustment , to tight or to loose.

Are you replacing the bearing race also? And are they well seated into hub?

Wild guess, spindle could be bent.

[TobyB]

Yeah, that ain't normal.  Are you getting them too tight?  They wanna be 'almost loose' or 'just loose'

 

They can run loose for quite a while, but tightening them up as tight as a domestic car's will

kill the outer in short order.

 

Pix of dead bearings?

 

t

[Koblenz]

Hey guys.  Actually the adjustment has been good. Until tight, then backing off just enough to slide the "washer" slightly. I would understand the lack of proper adjustment if it were myself but, I have a seasoned mechanic to confirm it. It only occurs on the right side.  Which is suspect. The adjustment  is the same for both. The spindle isn't bent.  They were inspected before the install and brand new.

 

Well seated and race replace.

 

The worn factor is perhaps an incorrect descriptor.  After a period of time (15-2k miles or so) the rotor can be "rocked". 

 

Could it be the rotor?

 

I tightened/ adjusted it again today.  It was loose. 

 

Appreciate the help. 

[M3M3]

After installing new bearings, readjusting them is normal after some miles.

Edited June 14, 2015 by mlytle

[Koblenz]

I believe you hit it on the head. I need to adjust them more frequently. 

Edited June 14, 2015 by Koblenz

[TobyB]

Also, if I recall, the spec for wheel bearing free play is 'just a little'- as in, 2mm at the edge of the tire, or something like that.

 

So just a little 'klunk' is actually just right.

 

On track cars, if it didn't 'klunk' at all, I loosened them, because they'd burn themselves otherwise...

 

t

[Hans]

I turn the wheel while tightening the nut. Spec calls for 18 ftlbs as I recall. Then back off, etc.

[Koblenz]

All good info.  I learn a great deal from this place.  Joy of driving my 02 is compounded by working on it. When I drove for the first time it after body work and after windshield install I learned you have to have the cluster installed.  Or, you run out of gas and the system doesn't charge.

[zinz]

Right front bearing?  Are you running NASCAR ? ...Shake and Bake  

 

...sorry, couldn't help  myself. 

 

Good to read from the gurus about not running them too tight. The proper "feel" of front wheel bearings goes hand-in-hand with the drag on the feeler gauge when adjusting valves.  Sometimes it's difficult to express in words...

 

I have 15" wheels and wide tires and I check my front bearings on a regular basis.

 

Ed

['76mintgrün'02]

I am putting my '69 VW back on the road.  Frozen wheel cylinders have been replaced, the shoes slightly skuffed, and she stops like she ought to.    

 

While working on the passenger side I noticed that the seal looked a little funny, so I took a closer look at that bearing and saw that the race had some pitting, so I tapped in a new one, and installed a new inner bearing (along with a new seal).

 

I adjusted them with the faintest little wiggle and went for a test drive.

The side with new bearings came back WAY loose.  I must not have completely seated the race.

I readjusted both sides and since then, they have held that perfect little clunk of a wiggle.

 

If you have a seal that looks like this, you might want to replace it.

 

 

I assume you are cleaning all the old grease out of the hub?  

 

Mine likely had bits of gasket spring in it.