Wheel bearing play???!
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 229
Likes: 31
From: Finger Lakes area NY
Wheel bearing play???!
1968 BB.
the front wheels have a bit of play. Maybe a 1/32 to 1/16
it’s odd... I can not get any play with wheel off. But on and torqued there is play. It seems like the disc is not seating, although I do not see how this is possible.
gentlemen, any ideas?
my plan was for a 80 mile trip this weekend.
the front wheels have a bit of play. Maybe a 1/32 to 1/16
it’s odd... I can not get any play with wheel off. But on and torqued there is play. It seems like the disc is not seating, although I do not see how this is possible.
gentlemen, any ideas?
my plan was for a 80 mile trip this weekend.
Last edited by Tom_K; Sep 25, 2020 at 04:50 PM.
Heel & Toe
Joined: May 2020
Posts: 23
Likes: 2
That seems like way too much play. If the front play is the same as the recommended rear play then it should be between 2 and 8 thousandths of an inch. And from personal experience, it's much more difficult to feel wheel bearing play by grabbing the spindle directly than it is to check with the tire on, that is unless the bearings are really bad. Same with ball joints and tie rod ends or anything else connected to the control arm that has bushings. However, make sure the play isn't from the lug nuts being loose since you can't tell with the tire off and also make sure the play is all the way around, maning up and down, side to side, and diagonal to diagonal, if not then it's probably something other than the wheel bearing.
Pro
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 696
Likes: 193
From: USA
1968 BB.
the front wheels have a bit of play. Maybe a 1/32 to 1/16
it’s odd... I can not get any play with wheel off. But on and torqued there is play. It seems like the disc is not seating, although I do not see how this is possible.
gentlemen, any ideas?
my plan was for a 80 mile trip this weekend.
the front wheels have a bit of play. Maybe a 1/32 to 1/16
it’s odd... I can not get any play with wheel off. But on and torqued there is play. It seems like the disc is not seating, although I do not see how this is possible.
gentlemen, any ideas?
my plan was for a 80 mile trip this weekend.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
No way!! Remove the bearing dust cap and the cotter pin from the retaining nut. Then tighten nut down LOOSELY but firm. If the nut tightened more than one 'notch' from where it was, there was too much bearing 'play'. The GM Service Manual will describe how this is properly set.
It's a good time to check and re-grease the (inner and outer) front wheel bearings.
It's a good time to check and re-grease the (inner and outer) front wheel bearings.
