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    Wheel Bearing Inspection

    Uploaded by

    Juan Renteria
    Proper maintenance of wheel bearings is important for brake and suspension function. Wheel bearings must be properly lubricated and adjusted to prevent premature failure, which could lead to loss of vehicle control. When servicing wheel bearings, it is essential to carefully clean, inspect, repack, and adjust them according to manufacturer specifications to ensure safety.

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    © All Rights Reserved
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    Wheel Bearing Inspection

    Uploaded by

    Juan Renteria
    362 views44 pages
    Proper maintenance of wheel bearings is important for brake and suspension function. Wheel bearings must be properly lubricated and adjusted to prevent premature failure, which could lead to loss of vehicle control. When servicing wheel bearings, it is essential to carefully clean, inspect, repack, and adjust them according to manufacturer specifications to ensure safety.

    Original Description:

    Wheel Bearing grease

    Original Title

    Wheel Bearing inspection

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    Proper maintenance of wheel bearings is important for brake and suspension function. Wheel bearings must be properly lubricated and adjusted to prevent premature failure, which could lead to loss of vehicle control. When servicing wheel bearings, it is essential to carefully clean, inspect, repack, and adjust them according to manufacturer specifications to ensure safety.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    362 views44 pages

    Wheel Bearing Inspection

    Uploaded by

    Juan Renteria
    Proper maintenance of wheel bearings is important for brake and suspension function. Wheel bearings must be properly lubricated and adjusted to prevent premature failure, which could lead to loss of vehicle control. When servicing wheel bearings, it is essential to carefully clean, inspect, repack, and adjust them according to manufacturer specifications to ensure safety.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    of 44

    Wheel Bearings

    • Proper care of wheel bearings is an essential 
    part of servicing brakes and suspensions

    • Wheel bearings that are not properly 
    serviced will fail sooner than necessary

    • A wheel bearing failure may lead to…

    ! BIG TROUBLE !
    Poorly adjusted wheel bearing
    Roller Wheel Bearings
    Cylindrical or Roller
    wheel bearings have
    cylinder shaped rollers

    Cylindrical or Roller
    bearings will not
    control Thrust loads
    They are found on
    rear drive axles
    Ball Wheel Bearings

    Ball bearings are also found on some axles


    or hubs and will control Thrust loads
    Radial & Thrust (or Axial) Loading
    Rotating axles are subjected to Radial
    and Axial / Thrust forces
    Semi-floating axle bearings
    Grease Seal
    The weight of the Radial load is directly upon the drive axle shaft
    Full Floating Axle Bearings
    ride on a Spindle – not the axle shaft
    (used in 1‐ton and heavier trucks)
    Full Floating Axle Bearings use 
    Tapered Roller Bearings that require 
    careful adjustment procedures after 
    inspecting or replacing brakes.
    For light trucks and automobiles, 
    Adjustable Tapered Wheel Bearings are 
    often found on the Non‐driving axle.

    …Front wheels for rear wheel drive

    …Rear wheels for front wheel drive
    Tapered Wheel Bearings require careful 
    adjustment if the hub is removed.

    Tapered wheel bearings should be 
    cleaned, inspected and re‐packed
    every time brakes are replaced.
    Tapered Wheel Bearings
    The tapered roller
    bearings require
    careful adjustment
    to control radial and
    axial (thrust) loads
    Tapered Wheel Bearings should be 
    cleaned, re‐packed and properly 
    adjusted with every brake job.

    Always replace seals and locking pins
    when re‐packing wheel bearings.
    When removing the caliper DO NOT allow
    it to hang by the brake hose. This can
    damage the inside of the hose!

    Always replace grease seal EVERY


    time it is removed from the hub
    Always use new cotter pin
    Static vs Dynamic Seals
    Static seals are for non‐moving components
    (like a head gasket or oil pan gasket)

    Dynamic Seals are for moving parts like bearings

    Always replace any seal that has been removed –

    Especially dynamic seals (they wear out!)

    The Grease Seal for wheel bearings is a dynamic seal
    Wheel Bearing Service

    Wheel bearings must have…

    … the proper adjustment …

    … the proper lubricant …

    …and kept CLEAN
    Wheel Bearing Service
    • Each wheel bearings will become “Wear Mated”
    to it’s inner and outer race

    • When cleaning and repacking bearings make sure 
    each bearing stays with the original outer race

    • If you replace a bearing be sure to install a new race

    • Pack one side at a time to avoid switching bearings 
    and races.
    Bearing End Play / Pre‐load
    Bearing adjustment will call for either
    pre‐load or end play

    End play can be measured with a dial indicator

    A bearing adjusted with Pre‐load will have zero end‐play

    Most adjustable tapered wheel bearing adjustment 
    procedures will result in a small end‐play.

    End play will typically measure 0.001” to 0.005”  
    When should you service 
    wheel bearings?

    • Repack at every brake job.

    • Inspect if hub is removed

    • Carefully adjust if hub is removed
    Inspect and repack 
    wheel bearings
    • Always use new race with new bearing
    • Keep bearing matched to race if repacking
    • Always use a new seal if old one is removed
    • Do not mix grease, clean out all old grease
    (Soaps in different greases are not compatible)
    • Do not pack hub or grease cap with grease
    Chassis & Wheel Bearing Grease
    Grease is a combination of lubricating oil
    and
    a thickening agent to hold oil in place (called SOAP)

    Grease must be able to ….
    …Reduce Friction to control heat
    …Reduce wear on moving parts
    …Transfer (dissipate) Heat
    …Protect metal from corrosion
    Chassis & Wheel Bearing Grease
    • “Soap” is used to hold the lubricating oil in the grease
    • Lithium Soap is common
    • Aluminum, Barium and Sodium Soaps are also used

    • Soaps are not compatible and greases should 
    not be mixed or they will fail to lubricate!
    • Always remove ALL old bearing grease 
    when repacking a bearing 

    • Inexperienced technicians make a mistake if they fail to
    clean out all grease from the bearing hub!
    Chassis & Wheel Bearing Grease
    • National Lubricating Grease Institute  NLGI
    • Classifies grease for application and quality
    • “L” rated grease is used for vehicle chassis parts
    • LA = lowest quality.  
    • LB = highest quality designed for infrequent lubrication 
    • “G” rated grease is for wheel bearings
    • GA = Mild duty   GB = Moderate duty   GC = Severe duty

    • Always use grease rated GC for any vehicle wheel bearing
    NLGI Consistency number or Grade
    • Grease is rated  for Thickness or Viscosity

    • Most wheel bearing grease will be NLGI Grade 2
    Chassis & Wheel Bearing Grease
    • Ensure grease is rated GC (or GC‐LB) 
    for wheel bearings!
    • GC is for severe service wheel bearing, 
    LB is Chassis lube for Suspension
    • GC‐LB Grease can be used for BOTH 
    chassis and wheel bearings.   
    Inspect and repack 
    wheel bearings
    Remove ALL old grease including the hub
    Clean thoroughly with solvent
    Dry with compressed air…
    DO NOT spin bearings with air…..
    ….This may cause bearing to fly apart

    Flush away ALL traces of solvent with brake clean
    Rinse with alcohol or brake clean 
    after blowing off solvent!
    • The grease must be able to stick to the bearing 
    rollers to be effective.

    • Failing to remove all traces of solvent may cause 
    early wheel bearing failure

    • If not repacking bearing immediately coat with oil 
    and wrap in paper

    • Dirt is #1 enemy of bearings
    Fully pack the bearing
    Notice how you can tell if the
    bearing is fully packed!
    Do not over‐pack Hub with grease
    • Will cause grease to be forced past seal

    • This will contaminate brake linings with grease

    • It is common for inexperienced technicians to 
    use too much wheel bearing grease in the hub
    No need to pack the hub with grease. Just coat the
    outer races with fresh-clean grease.

    It is important to remove ALL old grease from the hub


    to avoid any incompatible soaps or grease additives
    found in the new wheel bearing grease.
    Adjust bearing end play or pre load
    • Look up specifications

    • Do not adjust all bearing the same

    • Always use a new cotter key
    (use the thickest cotter pin that will fit)
    Loose Wheel Bearings
    • Insufficient bearing preload can cause disc brakes 
    to “Knock Back”

    • Knock Back can cause low brake pedal and may 
    cause brake pull

    • Loose bearings will cause grease seal to fail 
    allowing grease on brake pads

    • May lead to broken spindle 
    Tight Wheel Bearing
    • Too much bearing preload will overheat 

    • May cause bearing to seize on spindle

    • May cause race to spin in hub

    • May cause wheel and hub to fly off vehicle

    With tapered wheel bearings a little too loose is 
    better than a little too tight!
    R & R Sealed Wheel Bearings
    • Many wheel bearings are sealed and must be 
    replaced when they wear

    • Use procedures specified by manufacturer 
    when replacing

    • Insure proper support of steering knuckle or 
    spindle when pressing
    Important to press on proper race
    R & R Sealed Wheel Bearings
    The first time you use a new type of press
    to replace sealed wheel bearings get checked out by 
    your instructor or a more experienced technician!

    Improper use of the press or bearing installation tool 
    can damage components or cause improper pre‐load 
    on sealed bearing.

    Bearing failure can‐will occur from improper 
    replacement procedures and may cause 
    injury to the vehicle and occupants!
    Bearing Noise
    • Failing bearings get noisy and may be hard to 
    locate

    • Swerving left or right will change the load on 
    bearings, and change the sound

    • Swerving left will increase load on right

    • With tapered wheel bearings cleaning and 
    inspection may be the only way to confirm
    Bearing Service
    • Any time you service a wheel bearing you are 
    responsible for the future safety of that vehicle

    • Improper procedures, adjustments, or lubrication 
    may lead to brake failure

    • Improper service may cause the wheel to fly off 
    the vehicle 
    Bearing Service
    • Always look up vehicle specifications when 
    servicing or adjusting wheel bearings 

    • If you are not sure ASK QUESTIONS!

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