Front wheel bearing play

[Iain]

OK following on from this thread: http://www.pngclub.com/forum/showthread.php?189118-Front-wheel-bearing-tollerances-and-interference-fit-importance

I've sourced some Audi/VW bearings that fit nicely into my machined Nova knuckle. The Cav hub also feels tight when its sliding into the middle of the bearing.

I've fitted two new bearings now and they both still have play when fitted and the wheel bolted up to them.

Surely if there was any mistake in machining sizes it would destroy itself immediately or spin inside the bearing itself. It feels tight when I'm fitting it together.

I'm fitting them by tapping the bearing in with the old bearing, then supporting the middle of the bearing and pressing in the hub with a vice.

[Andy]

Sounds like somethings possibly gone oval??

[Iain]

Well I've been investigating it further. Took out the retaining circlip and wiggled it about and it's definitely not the hub in the bearing or the bearing body in the knuckle moving about. The play is coming from inside the bearing itself.

That's two brand new bearings I've fitted and they have play though!

[Asa-James]

Might sound like a daft question but are you bolting the cv joint in before you check it for play?

[Iain]

Not a daft question at all. Yes it's got a CV in and nut wellied up with a breaker bar. Putting the wheel on to check for play too.

[mowgli]

asa, i can't see how that would make a difference.. the bearing is meant to be a press fit into the hub carrier

[Iain]

I guess the CV being bolted up into the hub takes out any potential play in the bearing? Although in my mind there'd only be play if the bearing inners separated slightly when fitting the hub.

Ahhhh

[mowgli]

iain, the trouble with these pattern parts from god knows where..... is that they often don't fit so well, they are cheaply made on worn kit to dodgy tolerances... a genuine bearing should do way better, or one from someone slightly more reputable..

eg a proper bearing shop, or a vw specialist.

[Iain]

I thought FAG bearings were a reasonable quality. Trouble is finding another one with a similar OD tolerance to fit in the knuckle nicely.

[John]

Bearing moving in hub. How hard was it to push the new bearings in the hubs?

[Iain]

I've had the inner circlip off and wiggled the hub about in the bearing/knuckle and the play looks to be entirely in the bearing and the outer part of the bearing is not moving?

It wasn't mega hard to fit them in the knuckle, but they went in reasonably tight.

[mowgli]

i wouldn't risk it tbh

[John]

Ok so the hub must be all the way through the bearing and sitting against the cv. Ie the hub is too long. Do some measurements. It sounds like all you are doing is tightening the hub right up to the cv and not clamping it in the bearing. Probably why the bearings have failed so quickly.

[Iain]

Hub was shortened by a few mm and ends just before the bearing so I'm confident the cv is clamping against the bearing

[John]

How confident? Measure it :)

[John]

What Cvs are you running? Big block?

[Iain]

Very. Its visible and feel able. I'll get pics and measurements tomorrow

I honestly don't know what to do now. Buying more bearings doesn't feel like an option

[Iain]

Yes big block CV

[John]

Put a spacer washer over the end of the cv joint and see if the play goes. Same outer diameter as the inner race of the bearing

[Iain]

It did have one of those on but its a terrible fit. Ill try it again though

[John]

So you don't have the washer on there now?

[Iain]

Did do until I took it off. Last fitting was without it when I worked out it wasn't needed.

[John]

Ok, try it back in and see what happens :)

[Iain]

Tried the spacer back on, wanged it up and no joy.

Measured up and I think it's all resting where it should be

http://iainel.co.uk/images/forums/MachinedHub.JPG

I think the solution is to ignore it again. :)