Wheel bearing symptoms?

[WolfpackTLC]

Wheel bearings are barely one year old... (got em from C-dan)

I THINK I'm getting a squeaking from them.... here's what I did to diagnose.

Pulled both wheels and drive plates.... pulled the nuts and lock washers.... checked pre-load, reset to factory spec... put it all back together.

With the wheel on the hub I get approx 1-2mm play, from top to bottom, meaning if you grab the top of the tire, it will move towards you and the bottom will as well.

At any speed OVER 5mph, an audible, disgusting squeaking appears... it's not a bad squeak, just VERY annoying... Upon inspection of the bearings, they appear ok...

I've recently been through a lot of mud... could it be mud squeaking on the body mounts, etc? I'm doubtful, only b/c the squeaking is most prominent off throttle, and virtually disappears on throttle. I greased all my d-shaft points for good measure.

I know this is a simple fix, and kind of a noob question, but bear with me and help!

TIA!

Wolf

 

[GXO]

What about no throttle and turning?

Will it ONLY move at 12 and 6 o clock? What about another axis?

Wheel bearings would be in all directions. Could be the trunion bearings if only on the one axis.

 

[WolfpackTLC]

Hmmm....

No throttle and turning = no squeaking.

Trunion bearings? This is where I show my ignorance. I know NOTHING about those.

 

[lovetoski]

Trunion bearings also go by "knuckle" bearings. These are on the top and bottom of the knuckle housing, and allow the front wheels to turn. These could be loose. Also, there are some cases of the knuckle studs coming loose. Check the torque on the nuts on the knuckle studs. If one or more is loose, you should confirm that the stud is tight in the knucke.

 

[Rich]

I'd be surprised if you were getting an on throttle squeak from 1 year old wheel bearings. I would be astonishd if you were getting an on throttle squeak from any age trunion bearings.

Based on previous postings by Rick it could be you have a spindle bushing going dry.

 

[cruiserdan]

I second the spindle bushing motion.

 

[landtank]

The preload setup up is garbage. With the tire off the ground, spin it with your hand and torque the inner nut to 10 ft lbs. Then replace the star washer and torque the outer nut to 40 ft lbs. Now check for that play you have in the wheel. I really doubt it's the trunion bearings for the play and the bushing for the noise as my bushing noise was not a squeel. My thought it's the pads riding on the rotor. With that much play in the wheel the rotor would ride on the pads and glaze them. After correcting the play in the tire you still might get some noise from the pads if I'm correct.

 

[e9999]

The preload setup up is garbage. With the tire off the ground, spin it with your hand and torque the inner nut to 10 ft lbs. Then replace the star washer and torque the outer nut to 40 ft lbs. Now check for that play you have in the wheel. I really doubt it's the trunion bearings for the play and the bushing for the noise as my bushing noise was not a squeel. My thought it's the pads riding on the rotor. With that much play in the wheel the rotor would ride on the pads and glaze them. After correcting the play in the tire you still might get some noise from the pads if I'm correct.

40 ftlbs? I thought it was something like 40 inchlbs - going by memory...

E

 

[Tooth Fairy]

Next time you pull it apart grease the dust seal on the inboard side of the hub.

I had one of those that caused a lot of sqeaking.

Could be dry from the mud and washing.

 

[WolfpackTLC]

All very valid points gentlemen.... I'll address them all tomorrow.

Spindle bushing? As in the one around the spindle? That the hub rides on? That one is DEFINITELY not dry.... there is PLENTY of grease all over....

40ft/lbs? Really? On the outer nut? Are you sure? ( not doubting you... just never heard this)

Nope... not the brakes... the noise doesn't cease when I hit the brakes..... (on or off throttle)

Everything that can be lubed HAS been lubed (axle wise)....

Anymore thoughts!

TIA!


J

 

[Tooth Fairy]

Spindle bushing? As in the one around the spindle? That the hub rides on? That one is DEFINITELY not dry.... there is PLENTY of grease all over....

The spindle bushing is on the inside of the spindle and is made of a softer nonferous metal (brass?). Your shaft on your birfield runs inside of it and on the facing of the bell of the birf it'll contact the backside of the spindle bushing. The new models of spindles come with roller bearings inside instead of the bushing (right?). Good luck.

 

[landtank]

The manual states that the locking nut should be 47 ft lbs. I have always used 40, just a mistake made early on that I've continued to do.

 

[GXO]

correct, the LOCKING nut should be 47 FOOT pounds. I think folks are confusing the adjusting nut and the locking nut.

 

[e9999]

correct, the LOCKING nut should be 47 FOOT pounds. I think folks are confusing the adjusting nut and the locking nut.

darn it, now you got me to go check the manual. Sure enough it's the adjusting nut (2nd go around) that's 48 inlbs. OK, OK!
Oh, well, at least memory is the first thing to go with old age...
E

 

[landtank]

Make no mistake Eric, I'm suggesting to NOT follow the manual when setting up his bearings.