Bearing race chipped on install (was: Wheel bearing circlips?)

[Jonathan Monetti]

'How did they manage to do that?' is the question foremost in my mind.  It's
kind of vexing, but my shop choices are fairly limited in these parts,
depsite the NASCAR history here.  With what I've spent at this shop this
year, I could have almost bought one of the harbor freight presses (and in
hindsight wish I had).

I'm going to drive on it.  If it tears itself apart in short order, I'll see
what recourse I have with this shop for a replacement and free press time,
but I'm not planning on holding my breath.

Thanks for the input
JM

Jonathan Monetti
2002 A4 1.8tq
1987.5 CGT
http://home.earthlink.net/~groovy_monkey/Audi



> -----Original Message-----
> From: Fred Munro [mailto:munrof at sympatico.ca]
> Sent: Monday, October 25, 2004 7:34 AM
> To: Jonathan Monetti; Quattro at Audifans. Com
> Subject: RE: Bearing race chipped on install (was: Wheel bearing
> circlips?)
>
>
> Hi Jonathan;
>
> If the chip isn't in the path of travel of the balls, you won't have an
> immediate problem. The chip will form stress risers in the race, which may
> or may not lead to problems down the road.
>
> My concern would be how they managed to chip the race. The only way I know
> of chipping a hardened steel race is by impact (one method of
> removing some
> stuck bearings is to shatter them with a BFH). I hope they didn't
> drive the
> bearings in with a hammer - a press should be used for this job. They may
> have dropped the bearing or their press setup may have slipped -
> in any case
> I would suspect this bearing will have a shorter service life than is
> typical. Sounds like your shop may not pay attention to details,
> but that is
> not unusual. If I chipped a bearing I certainly wouldn't use it,
> but then I
> don't make my living at this stuff either. The double ball bearing
> configuration on these cars takes a bit of thought and planning to do the
> install without damaging the bearings - it's not the usual "whack it out,
> whack the new one in" approach that works with North American cars.
>
> It will be interesting to see if the circlips are really there
> next time you
> change bearings.
>
> HTH
>
> Fred Munro
> '94 S4
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: quattro-bounces at audifans.com
> [mailto:quattro-bounces at audifans.com]On Behalf Of Jonathan Monetti
> Sent: October 25, 2004 12:53 AM
> To: Quattro at Audifans. Com
> Subject: Bearing race chipped on install (was: Wheel bearing circlips?)
>
>
> Thanks John, and to all who responded.
>
> I made some calls and it turns out there was a false alarm due to bad
> communication--they did in fact install circlips for me.  I won't be so
> quick to dismiss next time.  And now I have a couple spares to make key
> rings out of.
>
> However, they chipped the outer race of one of the bearings, and this did
> not make me happy.  The guy said he took a good look at it and determined
> that it was well outside the travel of the bearings themselves
> and "wouldn't
> cause any problems."  This is an old race mechanic and machinist and from
> what I hear around town, knows his stuff.  However, coming in with foreign
> parts generally makes him scoff (there used to be a NASCAR track here).  I
> wouldn't say I get the bum's rush, but I don't get any info or chit-chat
> other than "it's done" or "it ain't done yet."
>
> 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?
>
> Thanks
> JM
>
> Jonathan Monetti
> 2002 A4 1.8tq
> 1987.5 CGT
> http://home.earthlink.net/~groovy_monkey/Audi
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: John Larson [mailto:j.d.larson at verizon.net]
> > Sent: Saturday, October 23, 2004 8:57 PM
> > To: Jonathan Monetti; :quattro at audifans.com
> > Subject: Wheel bearing circlips?
> >
> >
> > Jonathan asked:  "So before I make yet another trip, I'm looking
> > for someone
> > to validate that I do indeed have to go back, get the hubs
> > pressed out, and
> > install the clips lest I end up in a ditch somewhere."
> > Unwise to run w/o the circlip, though the odds are it'll be OK.  You'll
> > lilely need new bearings when you take it apart.  The circlips
> come in the
> > bearing kit.  John
> >
>
>
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