Wheel Bearings Install Revisited

[Olde Man]

I installed new bearings in the hubs and when I went to install the hubs and the wheel together I noticed that they did not want to pull together. It was as if the spacer in between the bearing was too long or the bearing were seated too deep. About .025. Do you have to assemble the hubs together with the spacer in between to control the depth of one of the bearings to prevent side loading? What assy method did BDM use? It doesn't seem right to tap the bearing back and forth on the inner race to arrive at an acceptable side load. The installed wheel seems to turn OK but you can not turn ther bearings by hand before you install it. Thanks.

 

[moedog]

bearings

i had my bearings pressed in by a machinist and i installed hubs on wheel with the spacer and axle in place to insure alignment. also the hubs should have index marks on them so you can put them back together properly aligned on wheel.

 

[Olde Man]

I had a tire problem and had to remove the front wheel again and the bearing side load clearance has changed to less than .001. The bearing are not able to be turned by hand but when an axle is installed and torqued to 45 lbs the bearings are a little stiff but OK. I think when the assy took some abuse the clamping pressure allowed the bearing outer race to a more tollerable position.