Wheel Bearing Adjustment

Discussion in 'Technical' started by Tumbler, Apr 26, 2018.

  1. Tumbler

    Tumbler Member

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    I had to take my front brakes apart over the weekend. I'm using a disk brake conversion kit, so the rotors are from a 1983 Ford Ranger and the spindles are stock. How exactly do I figure out how tight the wheel bearings should be? Should I have some play when I pull the rotors back and forth?

    I found this procedure, and I was wondering if it'll be suitable: http://1bad6t.com/Maverick/repair/brake_system_04b.html

    Last year I had a shop replace a wheel bearing and it failed and destroyed the rotor few months later. Luckily there was a Les Schwab Tire down the block when this happened. They told me that the failure was most likely due the bearing being too loose, so this is something I really want to get right.
     
  2. yellow75

    yellow75 MCCI Oregon State Rep Supporting Member

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    Yes that would be the correct way to do it. Anything you read from 1bad6t you can take to the bank for being correct but never hurts to ask
     
  3. Tumbler

    Tumbler Member

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    Awesome, Thanks.
     
  4. baddad457

    baddad457 Member

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    More likely the bearing was either inferior quality, or adjusted too tight or both. I've seen lots of vehicles with loose bearings when I checked them and none had failed from being loose. I tighten the adjusting nut while spinning the hub till I start to feel resistance then back off only enough to get the cotter pin in place thru the slots in the nut retainer. Never had one fail afterwards, been doing it this way for forty years.
     
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  5. yellow75

    yellow75 MCCI Oregon State Rep Supporting Member

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    I adjust mine the same way as baddad does. I hate breaking out a torque wrench for something so easy to do
     
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  6. RMiller

    RMiller My name is Rick

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    That's how my grandpa showed me too. Works great if you have a feel for it, if not, go with the instructions.
     
  7. Tumbler

    Tumbler Member

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    I followed the directions and torqued the bearings down to 10ft. lbs., and they seemed a bit tight. I drove it for a bit and started getting a grinding noise. I then loosened them and tightened by feel and everything seems fine now. The torque wrench must not be accurate.
     
  8. yellow75

    yellow75 MCCI Oregon State Rep Supporting Member

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    After you drive it a ways feel around the center of the hub, it should be a little warm but not so warm that it will burn you
     
  9. 71gold

    71gold Frank Cooper Supporting Member

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    the torquing thing may be great for...new bearings, races, spindles and hubs. get 40 years on parts and then going by feel is a little better....JMO
     

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