Basic front wheel bearing question
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 2,143
Likes: 195
From: Englewood FL
Basic front wheel bearing question
MY 1979 wanders a bit, in that you have to correct the steering. Before I
look at some of the other causes like the rag joint and idler arm, want to
make sure the front wheel bearings are tight enough.
The brakes also seem to pull to one side sometimes and a recent post said
this could be a loose wheel bearing.
Last time I repacked them, I tightened the spindle nut till I felt some
resistance when spinning the rotor, then backed the nut off until I could get
the cotter pin thru. Is this correct?
Is there any other way to check that they are tight enough?
look at some of the other causes like the rag joint and idler arm, want to
make sure the front wheel bearings are tight enough.
The brakes also seem to pull to one side sometimes and a recent post said
this could be a loose wheel bearing.
Last time I repacked them, I tightened the spindle nut till I felt some
resistance when spinning the rotor, then backed the nut off until I could get
the cotter pin thru. Is this correct?
Is there any other way to check that they are tight enough?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 2,310
Likes: 1
Re: Basic front wheel bearing question (mark79,80)
Probably as good a technique as any.
FWIW, here's what Haynes has to offer:
"Install the washer & spindle nut. Tighten the nut only slightly (no more than 12 ft-lbs of torque). Spin the hub in a forward direction to seat the bearings and remove any grease or burrs which could cause excessive bearing play later. Check to see that the tightness of the spindle nut is still approximately 12 ft-lbs. Loosen the spindle nut until it is just loose, no more. {kinda vague there :rolleyes: }. Using your hand (not a wrench of any kind), tighten the nut until it's snug (hub end play should be 0.001 to 0.005 inch). Install a new cotter pin through the hole in the spindle and spindle nut. If the nut slots don't line up, loosen the nut slightly until they do. From the hand-tight position, the nut should not be loosened more than one-half flat to install the cotter pin."
FWIW, here's what Haynes has to offer:
"Install the washer & spindle nut. Tighten the nut only slightly (no more than 12 ft-lbs of torque). Spin the hub in a forward direction to seat the bearings and remove any grease or burrs which could cause excessive bearing play later. Check to see that the tightness of the spindle nut is still approximately 12 ft-lbs. Loosen the spindle nut until it is just loose, no more. {kinda vague there :rolleyes: }. Using your hand (not a wrench of any kind), tighten the nut until it's snug (hub end play should be 0.001 to 0.005 inch). Install a new cotter pin through the hole in the spindle and spindle nut. If the nut slots don't line up, loosen the nut slightly until they do. From the hand-tight position, the nut should not be loosened more than one-half flat to install the cotter pin."
