Wheel bearing question

Suspension related stuff goes in here.
Post Reply
KandJinmaine
Posts: 49
Joined: Fri Sep 05, 2014 9:30 am
Your car is a: 1980 spider 2000

Wheel bearing question

Post by KandJinmaine »

So I got the Spider down to the alignment shop after new everything and they got it pretty close, we're going back for a tweak on Saturday. However, when I put it back on the lift to check to make sure everything looked good ( o.k. I'm a little protective,ACD, suspicious, whatever you want to call it), the front wheel bearings had some play in them. I did what the manual and those on this site who have more knowledge/experience than I said to do as far as the torquing procedure goes for new bearings and now I have play? Do I need to redo the packing and re-torque them with new hub nuts (I can't imagine re-doing it with "prestaked" nuts)? Is some play -top and bottom- normal?
Also, I want to re-center the steering wheel, any tips/tricks?
Disappointed,
Jeff
1980 2000FI
1959 Chevrolet Apache 4WD
1962 Chevy Nova
2015 Chevy Silverado Z71
2013 Grand Cherokee Overland
So Cal Mark

Re: Wheel bearing question

Post by So Cal Mark »

you shouldn't have play in the front bearings, otherwise you'll have knock-back on the calipers besides play in the steering. If your alignment shop didn't center the wheel I'd ask for a refund and find a real alignment shop
User avatar
RRoller123
Patron 2020
Patron 2020
Posts: 8179
Joined: Sun Nov 13, 2011 2:04 pm
Your car is a: 1980 FI SPIDER 2000
Location: SAGAMORE BEACH, MA USA

Re: Wheel bearing question

Post by RRoller123 »

If it is wobbly when pulling top and bottom, could be the ball joints too/and/or.
'80 FI Spider 2000
'74 and '79 X1/9 (past)
'75 BMW R75/6
2011 Chevy Malibu (daily driver)
2010 Chevy Silverado 2500HD Ext Cab 4WD/STD BED
2002 Edgewater 175CC 80HP 4-Stroke Yamaha
2003 Jaguar XK8
2003 Jaguar XKR
2021 Jayco 22RB
2019 Bianchi Torino Bicycle
User avatar
azruss
Posts: 3659
Joined: Sun May 30, 2010 12:24 pm
Your car is a: 80 Fiat 2000 FI

Re: Wheel bearing question

Post by azruss »

I'm not the expert that Mark Allison is but have set the front wheel bearing tolerance several times following the instructions in all the repair books. When the car is cold and you grab the top of the tire and push and pull with some force, you will feel a slight amount of play. It is my understanding that if it is any tighter, you will burn up your bearings when the bearings get up to temperature. This is normal for any tapered bearings in industrial gearboxes as well.
So Cal Mark

Re: Wheel bearing question

Post by So Cal Mark »

with disc brakes, looseness in the bearing will cause knock back. Too tight is a very bad thing
KandJinmaine
Posts: 49
Joined: Fri Sep 05, 2014 9:30 am
Your car is a: 1980 spider 2000

Re: Wheel bearing question

Post by KandJinmaine »

Thanks for the replies. The play is not much, but a little and any makes me a little nervous, and it is for sure in the bearings. Yes it is top and bottom not front and back. The rest of the whole front end is brand new from AR, for that matter the bearings are too. I installed new upper and lower A-arms with new bushings and ball joints, new tie rods, center link, and a new steering idler too. As far as a " real allignment shop" goes, this is the best within at least 50 miles here in the wilds of DownEast Maine. We don't have many choices here, and no In-N-Out Burger either ( I sure would enjoy a double double right now 8) !!
The steering wheel has always been just a little off of perfect, maybe 1 o'clock instead of 12 (12:45?), but I'd like to center it. Is it a matter of pulling the hub and moving it back a spline or two, I haven't looked into it too close yet.

Thanks again for the help/advice
Jeff
1980 2000FI
1959 Chevrolet Apache 4WD
1962 Chevy Nova
2015 Chevy Silverado Z71
2013 Grand Cherokee Overland
DieselSpider
Posts: 2130
Joined: Wed Dec 24, 2014 10:21 pm
Your car is a: 1978 124 Spider with Isuzu Turbo Diesel

Re: Wheel bearing question

Post by DieselSpider »

It is possible that you may not have gotten the bearing races seated 100% so that they have now settled in after the drive to/from the alignment shop and require re-torquing.

It does happen from time to time even to the Pros.
KandJinmaine
Posts: 49
Joined: Fri Sep 05, 2014 9:30 am
Your car is a: 1980 spider 2000

Re: Wheel bearing question

Post by KandJinmaine »

DieselSpider wrote:It is possible that you may not have gotten the bearing races seated 100% so that they have now settled in after the drive to/from the alignment shop and require re-torquing.

It does happen from time to time even to the Pros.
Thanks! I guess I won't hang myself from the lift yet. I'll order a new set of hub nuts today.
Jeff
1980 2000FI
1959 Chevrolet Apache 4WD
1962 Chevy Nova
2015 Chevy Silverado Z71
2013 Grand Cherokee Overland
User avatar
azruss
Posts: 3659
Joined: Sun May 30, 2010 12:24 pm
Your car is a: 80 Fiat 2000 FI

Re: Wheel bearing question

Post by azruss »

with disc brakes, looseness in the bearing will cause knock back.
Mark, i have never heard this term before. can you explain.
KandJinmaine
Posts: 49
Joined: Fri Sep 05, 2014 9:30 am
Your car is a: 1980 spider 2000

Re: Wheel bearing question

Post by KandJinmaine »

I was going to order the hub nuts today, and the hi-perf alternator( from AR), but I talked to Ramzi, and I will talk to Csaba before I do. Point being that these guys are the " real deal". Couldn't be happier with the parts, the service, and the attitude. Just sayin'.
Jeff
1980 2000FI
1959 Chevrolet Apache 4WD
1962 Chevy Nova
2015 Chevy Silverado Z71
2013 Grand Cherokee Overland
Laserman
Posts: 7
Joined: Wed Oct 04, 2017 4:17 pm
Your car is a: 1976 Spider

Re: Wheel bearing question

Post by Laserman »

Ok folks - I know this is an old posting so just for your info.

Back in Octobre I purchased a nice restored 76 spider with a 2 litre conversion.
The steering though felt very nervous, so I dicided to have a look at it.

There was quite a lot of play in the front wheel bearings, but tightening the center nut did not produce the expected result.
I noticed that the play was mainly up and down and nearly no play back and forth.
So I pulled the hubs, and measured the stub axels and found that they both were 0.03mm out of round, smallest in the up down direction due to the load in this direction.
The ovality is for sure because some PO had tightened the bearings way too much, causing them to spin and wear on the axel.
My TEMPORARY fix was to tab at lot of tiny punchmarks in the worn area on the stub axel untill the bearing was a snug fit again.
Putting all back together and snugging up the center nut just fingertight, and the wheels has now no play at all.
Just FYI :D

Lars
Post Reply