Bearing race chipped on install

[Eric Sanborn]

Jonathan Monetti wrote:

>
>That being said, anyone BTDT in terms of chipping the outer race when
>installing bearings?  The chip is trangular and about 6mm long and 3mm deep
>at the deepest.  Am I screwed?
>  
>

How did they chip the bearing?  That is supposed to be hardened steel.  
Did they chip the outer race anywhere near where the bearing elements 
run?  If it is on the outside by itself I would not worry about it.  It 
will cause a slight stress concentration, but will still likely last 
years.  The real question is how did they do this?  If it is in the 
outside it likely changed the shape of the bearing making it more egg 
shaped.  Now this might be corrected by installation into the upright, 
but might still leave a lasting effect.

It is hard to say if it will be a problem. I doubt it will bother you in 
the next 1000 miles, but it might end up lasting a few years less than 
the other properly installed bearings.  My primary concern would be a 
change of dimensions of the inside of the bearing raceway that causes 
the rolling elements to jam up a little at that spot eventually leading 
to a cage failure.

All that babble aside any predictions I try to make are pretty worthless 
without holding the bearing in my hand to see how it was damaged.  If I 
was in your place I would just drive on it.  If it did decide to fail 
fairly soon you would hear it on the way out and you could get it fixed.

Good luck.

-- 
Eric Sanborn
'85 4ktq

http://sofadog.net/4ktq/