Front Wheel Bearings

[Guest Kev Newborough]

My 2b failed the M.O.T yesterday on a front wheel bearing,does anyone know if it is possible to simply tighten the nut up slightly to remove the play ,or am I looking at replacing the bearing.Also does anyone know what size the nut is because I certainly don't have anything to fit it in my toolbox. Kev.

[Guest salty_monk]

If they are anything like the ones on the Escort I used to have then their is no adjustment & the nut was either 32 or 36mm.... Sorry I can't be more help!

[Guest Ianz]

The front wheel bearings are normally bomb proof!!!!!!

in my experiance its not uncommon for mot testers to confuse

play from elsewhere,with play in a wheel bearing.

 

I'd get a second opinion

 

Cheers Ian

[Guest daveg]

Kev

 

41mm is the nut size

 

Check the lower ball joint etc...

 

Dave

[Big Jim]

As Dave says, the nut size is 41mm or 1⅝" AF. you may get something out of trying to tighten the nut, they should be bl00dy tight and them some!

and the wheel bearings are not bomb proof, they take some stick if you're driving it 'properly' they are however reasonably easy to change, the fronts being a bit harder than the rears, due to having to remove the whole stub axle. New bearings are about £18 each 'ish.

[Guest rizla]

no they are NOT adjustable as it is a complete unit bearing and once it has play its u/s

[steve in stockport]

Kev

just been on the locost site and came across this thread for wheel bearings at halfrauds

 

link

 

£10 a side seems ok to me

 

cheers

Steve

[Big Jim]

no they are NOT adjustable as it is a complete unit bearing and once it has play its u/s

rizla is correct, they aren't ajustable, but sometimes the nut isn't tightened up to it's proper torque (350 ftlbs) that's a big bar & jump on it! and if it's worked loose, sometimes they will retighten.

£10 a side seems ok to me

Very cheap! snatch their hands off, I'll go and get some for spares!

[Guest daveg]

Kev & all newbie builders

 

Warning These hub nuts are handed i.e one side has a left hand thread so you undo it to tighten

 

That means you have to be careful about which side you fit the hub, i.e don't take both apart and then get them mixed up (like I did )

 

Dave

[ibrooks]

Jim - I remember a write-up you did on how to change them that had me killing myself in the office - at the time I only had one member of staff and she didn't see the funny side.

 

"feel gently for the lip and then hit the b u g g e r s hard with a hammer"

 

 

Aren't you going to include it again?

 

Iain

[Big Jim]

Jim - I remember a write-up you did on how to change them

thanks Ian, I thought that I had somewhere!..........you're right, as it's here!

the front hubs are very similar, except that you have to remove the whole stub axle, then undo the nut in a GOOD vice, with the bench bolted to the floor preferably. You could try slackening the nut whilst the assembly is still on the car.

[Guest Kev Newborough]

Thanks for the advice boys, job done now.Had to buy the 41mm socket and the bearing cost me £18 from Minorfern in ClayCross. As Jim said the nut was bloody tight , had to use an extension on the end of the ratchet, and Ive loosened the workbench a bit.Took it back to the tester this morning and he passed it ok.If anyone local needs the loan of the socket you are more than welcome. Kev.