Wheel bearings...

[james accordino]

--- isham-research.freeserve.co.uk at pop.pol.net.uk,
quk at isham-research.freeserve.co.uk wrote:

> > notice that the hub and inner race will shift and
> make a clicking noise.
> > This is more noticeable on the one strut than the
> other. What have I got
> > here? Buggered bearings or normal? Holding the
> strut still, take hold of
> > the hub and move it and the thing moves. Look in

> My guess is that they were pressed in using the
> inner race and they're
> buggered.

I just replaced all four bearings.  When they were on
the car, they didn't make any obvious noise, and with
a wheel jacked up, there was no obvious play
indicating a bad or loose bearing.  However after the
strut housings were out of the car, I started to
notice some play.  When I got the bearings out of the
housings and compared them to the new ones, it was
very obvious that they were quite worn.  Not shot, but
well worn.  They would have lasted, but how much
longer?  I think it's pretty unrealistic to think that
on a car with 150-250k miles that the wheel bearings,
fuel injectors, etc. are "fine".  Maybe they're not
broken, but they certainly aren't performing nearly as
well as new ones.  What you described sounds like my
bearings with 184k miles on them.  Sorry.  Phil is
absolutely correct (as usual) about the pressing.  You
must press against the race you are installing or
they're ruined.  I.E. the outer race into the housing
and the inner race when installing the hub.  If
someone pressed anywhere else on the bearing, you are
a no-go at this station.  Same reasoning for having
the axle stubs installed and bolted up before rolling
the car.  Again, sorry to hear of your troubles. 
Those long waits for parts must stink.  I get weird if
I have to wait a week.

Jim Accordino