Front Wheel Bearing Adjust Method?
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 1,478
Likes: 38
From: Long Island NY
Front Wheel Bearing Adjust Method?
Just got my hubs/rotors back from Bairs. I've read many different ways to adjust front wheel bearings. Torque to 10,12 or 15 lbs? Then back nut off 1 flat....Or no torque at all. 
Any help. Thanks.
Any help. Thanks.
Pro
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 567
Likes: 82
From: Auckland
Adjustment procedure according to my FSM IS
Adjustment (Fig. 3C-2)
1. Remove hub cap or wheel disc from wheel.
2. Remove dust cap from hub.
3. Remove cotter pin from spindle and spindle nut.
4. Tighten the spindle nut to 16 N*m (12 ft. lbs.) while turning the wheel assembly forward by hand to fully seat the bearings. This will remove any grease or burrs which could cause excessive wheel bearing play later. (SeeFig.3C-2).
5. Back off the nut to the "just loose" position.
6. Hand tighten the spindle nut. Loosen spindle nut until
either hole in the spindle lines up with a slot in the nut. (Not more than 1/2 flat).
1. Remove hub cap or wheel disc from wheel.
2. Remove dust cap from hub.
3. Remove cotter pin from spindle and spindle nut.
4. Tighten the spindle nut to 16 N*m (12 ft. lbs.) while turning the wheel assembly forward by hand to fully seat the bearings. This will remove any grease or burrs which could cause excessive wheel bearing play later. (SeeFig.3C-2).
5. Back off the nut to the "just loose" position.
6. Hand tighten the spindle nut. Loosen spindle nut until
either hole in the spindle lines up with a slot in the nut. (Not more than 1/2 flat).
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 2,625
Likes: 242
From: Russell Ontario
St. Jude Donor '09
I always snug them up while the wheel is spinning , and back them up , I feel for play in the bearing if there's no play tighten to the next hole in the spindle , But I find everybody has a way of doing this . 
Racer
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 307
Likes: 19
From: Kirkland WA
If you're looking for the ultimate in overkill and perfection, you've come to the right vine. Here's what I did last time:
"While spinning the wheel in the direction of forward vehicle travel, torque the bearing nut to 15ft/lbs, this sets the bearing and grease.
Back off the nut until loose then while rotating in the direction of travel retighten to 50-60 inch pounds, Install the cotter pin without backing off to the nearest cotter pin hole. This give .0005-.001
Now the problem is there is no cotter pin hole??? Check and you will find there are TWO 2 holes in the spindle and the chances are good one of them lines up. If not then you can use valve spring shims under the nut, install one shim try the procedure again and check the TWO cotter pin holes.
I have used this for years along with trued/shimmed rotors and the most runout I have in one wheel is .003 total for bearing and runout."
I borrowed this 2004 comment from a post by Norval Wilhelm. You should read the whole thing if you want more detail.
http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/...-bearings.html
Last edited by Silvertone; Apr 4, 2017 at 12:29 PM.
