Wheel Bearings
Wheel bearings can be of either ball or tapered roller type. The ball bearings used for front wheel bearing applications are an angular type. An angular-type ball bearing will accept greater thrust loads than a Conrad-type bearing, which will accept a 100 percent load in the radial or thrust position and any combination of a 100 percent load. A tapered roller bearing will accept both a radial and a thrust load. All wheel bearings come in sets.
Tech Tip: Properly Setting Tapered Bearings Critical to Preventing Damage
The amount of end play, or preload, existing in a mounted pair of bearings is vital to a vehicle’s performance. Too tight or too loose of a preload can result in a damaged bearing or alignment problems. Seals, brake components and tire operation may also be affected, according to the experts at The Timken Company.
Tech Tip: Vibrations on Volvos While Driving
Wheel vibrations may occur if the wheel is not installed in the exact center position on the wheel hub. To avoid radial misalignment between the wheel and the hub, they must have the same diameters. It has been discovered on some cars that the wheel hubs (spare parts as well as production parts) may have a center cone with a “too small” outer diameter. If a wheel is installed on such a hub, it is possible that the wheel is installed with an offset of 1.5 mm (0.059″), which can cause wheel vibrations while driving.
WHEEL BEARING Q&A: What, When & Why
How much load can a wheel bearing carry? On a typical passenger vehicle weighing around 3,400 pounds, each pair of front-wheel bearings, as well as the rear-wheel or axle bearings, support around 850 pounds, depending on the weight balance and driveline configuration. If it’s a 6,000-pound SUV, each bearing might carry about 1,500 pounds. This
Diagnostic Solutions: Building Off-Road Suspension Systems
Judging from weekend traffic, desert off-road and mountain trail driving is becoming a major past-time for many import vehicle enthusiasts. Most of the off-road import vehicles I see in Colorado are the late ’80s and early ’90s Toyota and Nissan pickups and SUVs that feature mechanical simplicity along with the structural ruggedness needed to navigate miles from any service facility.
Tech Feature: Diagnosing and Replacing Chassis & Ride Control Parts
Worn chassis parts are often-overlooked causes of tire wear, steering and handling problems, and even road noise. Worn tie rods are the most common culprit for causing rapid tire wear, but worn control arm bushings or ball joints can also contribute to tire wear.
Subaru Legacy Outback 2.5L Tech Tip: ABS Motor On, Pedal Descends, But Doesn’t Run
Customer Concern: When you come to a stop, just before completely stopped, the ABS motor kicks on and the pedal goes down, then comes back up. Doesn’t matter what kind of stop. Always does it right before the vehicle is completely stopped. No codes are present.
2010 FAG Hub and Wheel Bearing Catalog Now Available
More than 90 new part numbers have been added to the premium-quality line that includes a full range of components from tapered bearings to fully-integrated hub units.
Honda Front Wheel Bearings With Integrated ABS Tone Ring
This tech tip provides part numbers and technical information for SKF double-row, angular-contact front wheel bearings with a split inner ring. The part numbers noted pertain to specific Honda applications.
Tech Tip: New Hub Units May Exhibit Rough Feel When Rotated by Hand
In a recent technical bulletin, SKF addresses the rough or coarse feel of some new hub units if they are rotated by hand before installation and explains why these conditions are normal for technicians to experience.
Tech Tip: SKF Offers Preventive Maintenance Recommendations and Tips for Avoiding Bearing Failure
A recent technical bulletin by SKF provides preventive maintenance recommendations for avoiding premature bearing failure, including tips on how to prevent repeat failures and assure customer safety.
Tech Feature: Servicing Worn Wheel Bearings
When a wheel bearing goes out on a vehicle, it may or may not give much warning. Typical clues include noise from the vicinity of the wheel, possibly some steering wander or looseness in the steering, and/or some abnormal tread wear on the front tires. Also, an ABS light could illuminate.