front wheelbearings

[Shake N Bake]

Hey folks,

Need a bit of help, I'm giving up on keeping front wheelbearings in the Shake, last set was put in around this time last year (and we went with new EVERYTHING) and they're already well past being toast, this is going to be the third new set in 18months... For some reason I can never get them tight enough.

Could someone spell it out for me, last time I followed the haynes manual exactly, they were still too loose... I dont get it!

Andy

[Crazy_Jeepman]

I can only think of one thing at the moment. I ran into this as well and it will fall it the same year catagory you are working on. I have a 76 front D44 axle I thought the rotors of an 84 would fit they do except you can not set the wheel bearings tighten them up and was still able to get a wobble out of them. I never investigated into why as I have many sets of rotors and just grabbed a set off a 79 and no problem. So I venture to guess that the rotor hubs are different or there are two sets of bearings used. I would look into this as I was surprised at the fact I could not get the 84 set tight on the 76 axle. I think your problem lies within this mystery. ;)

[ September 02, 2001: Message edited by: Crazy_Jeepman ]

[joe]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Shake N Bake:
Hey folks,

this is going to be the third new set in 18months... For some reason I can never get them tight enough. Andy<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Andy, just a thought here...you aren't getting'em too tight and burning'em up are ya?
Assuming you're also pressing in new races( a MUST DO w/new bearings).
After packing the bearings w/grease the inner lock nut needs to be tightened to 50 ft-lb while turning the wheel to seat the bearings then loosen the inner lock nut and re-torque to 35 ft-lb and then while turning the wheel back off the lock nut 1/3 turn. Install the lock washer with one of the holes lining up with a peg on the inner lock nut. Install the outer lock nut and torque it to at least 50 ft-lb. Now just check that the wheel turns freely and grab the wheel at 12 o'clock and at six o'clock and try to rock it. There should be no north-south or east-west play. If there is the bearings are too loose.
Wheel bearings should go a minimum of 100,000 if properly serviced every 25,000 miles(sooner if you've been doing water-crossings etc).
Is this just on one wheel or both? If it keeps happening to both I'd suspect improper install :(
One other thought but did you take a good look at the spindles? Maybe the spindle is buggered up and the race isn't pressing on or sitting square to the shaft? But if you're having probs with both front wheels the odds of both spindles being shot are slim though. Good luck.

[Shake N Bake]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by -joe:



Is this just on one wheel or both? If it keeps happening to both I'd suspect improper install :(
One other thought but did you take a good look at the spindles? Maybe the spindle is buggered up and the race isn't pressing on or sitting square to the shaft? But if you're having probs with both front wheels the odds of both spindles being shot are slim though. Good luck.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I'm having the problem mostly with the passenger side one, the drivers side is loose but hasn't had near the problems that I have with the passenger side... I did replace the spindle on the passenger side last year, so it was good! But now its questionable (its REAL bad now)

I'm not sure, going to go to the shop to work on it tomorow, try yet again, I can't see what I'm doing wrong, i've done enough wheelbearings that this SHOULDN'T even be an issue, but for some reason on the shake its been just a bear to get them right...

Andy

[joe]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Shake N Bake:

i've done enough wheelbearings that this SHOULDN'T even be an issue, but for some reason on the shake its been just a bear to get them right...

Andy<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
I sorta figured you had wheel bearings down by now from reading about some of the other projects you've done smile.gif
Since you seem to have the proceedure down and we can eliminate improper install I think maybe Crazy_Jeepman may be on to something in his above post regarding mix-matched parts or even the wrong bearings? Keep us posted Andy.

[ibnfe]

I had a problem with mine on my first change. I was changing 'em due to the screaming they were doing. The PO never did any maint on them I guess, cuz the driver side was dry and discolored. So I changed 'em, and then couldn't get them to stay adjusted. Anyhow, after I cooked the first set I installed, I found that apparently the outer race had spun in the hub ALOT, and either warped it a little from heat or shaved it down some from the spinning, and the new wouldn't seat square. So I replaced the hub with the new bearings, haven't had any trouble since. Hope this helps...

[Shake N Bake]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by -joe:

I sorta figured you had wheel bearings down by now from reading about some of the other projects you've done smile.gif
Since you seem to have the proceedure down and we can eliminate improper install I think maybe Crazy_Jeepman may be on to something in his above post regarding mix-matched parts or even the wrong bearings? Keep us posted Andy.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Not sure actually :rolleyes: Strangely enough I'm more confident doing major swaps/changes than I am doing 'routine' maintenance... I dont blink when I have to do a Major service (engine R&R or swap) but ask me to find all the zerks on the truck and I'll scratch my head smile.gif

But then again, this is the only truck i've had problems with front wheelbearings... smile.gif

Andy

[Shake N Bake]

Well interesting findings once I dug into the passenger side... (drivers side was good, just needed to be tightened a wee bit)

On the passenger side, the outter nut was SOOO tight it took impact tools to break it free, inner was at best finger tight (I know I tightened it to 50ft/lbs, I had to drive halfway across the city to get my torque wrench back so I could do it :rolleyes: ) The bearings looked to be in GREAT shape, the races were another story, the inner (closest to the spindle) was about 1/2 worn, the outter was about 3/4 gone! No idea how it happened!

And I've hit the point of giving up on those 'bearing race drivers' I cant EVER get a race in with them, I actually threw it out! My brass drift was soo much quicker and did a WAY better job smile.gif

Andy

[Ralph]

If you've repeatedly had bearings spinning on the spindles, you may have worn down the spindles such that they won't take to bearings seating properly. A new or good used pair of spindles may be in order.

[garcia]

Bearing mystery -- not sure its of any value, but you might be getting a mismatch between bearings, races, and spindles? Just a thought to add to the quandary. Good luck -- Mark