Wheel Bearing Torque Dos and Don’ts
While it may appear to be easier to use an impact wrench, it is not recommended. OEM and bearing manufacturers always recommend using a torque wrench for installation. During removal, an impact wrench can damage the axle nut threads and shock the CV joints. It can also create a false sense of security when adjusting a nut or bolt, which may be under or over torqued.
Why Bearings Fail
The inside of a bearing can be a hot place. When a bearing is cooling off, the contracting metal, air and lubricant can create a vacuum that is hopefully held by the seals. If the seals are worn and can’t hold the vacuum, the bearing or sealed hub unit will suck in outside air, debris and water. In some parts of the country that use salt on the roads, it is almost as bad as ocean water on wheel bearings.
SKF Launches Social Media Program, Providing Increased Access To Technical And Product Information
SKF has launched a Twitter page and YouTube channel to provide automotive and heavy-duty technicians and fleet managers with an additional source of SKF product and technical information.
GM Tech Tip: Growl Noise Caused By Axle Nuts
To diagnosis the noise, re-torque the existing front axle shaft nut to 162 ft/lbs and test drive the vehicle. If the noise is eliminated, replace both front axle nuts with the updated part (P/N: 10257766). On vehicles equipped with the police package, add an additional Nord-Lock.
Tech Tip: Generation 1 Wheel Bearings With Integrated ABS Tone Ring
The front wheel bearings listed in this Tech Tip all share a unique design feature. They are all double-row angular contact with a split inner ring. The distinctive feature on these bearings is that one of the two seals on the bearing has a built-in magnetic impulse wheel. Caution should be taken to make sure that the seal with the ABS impulse ring is installed in the correct direction.
TECH TIP: WHEEL BEARING HUB AXLE NUT TORQUING
Putting the proper torque on the center nut sets the preload for the bearing and keeps the bearing from separating while in operation. The torque specification for this center nut is critical to the performance and longevity of the hub.
Active Wheel Speed Sensor Diagnostics
There are two “types” of sensors generally found on the modern car – the passive speed sensor and the active speed sensor. They both perform the same function, but work entirely different. The passive speed sensor uses a magnet with fine copper wire wrapped around it to create its own alternating magnetic field. The polarity changes from positive to negative as the tone ring passes by the magnetic field. This frequency changes with wheel speed.
Tech Tip: Frequently Asked Questions About Hub Assemblies
This tech tip from The Timken Company is designed to help you install and maintain Timken bearings, seals and components to maximize the life and performance of those bearings and the systems in which they operate.
Servicing Wheel Bearings And Wheel Speed Sensors
If you are replacing a wheel bearing on a late-model vehicle, you will be dealing with a wheel speed sensor. In the past decade, wheel speed sensors have been moving from differentials, axles and knuckles to inside or on the wheel bearing or hub unit. At this location, the sensors are more accurate and often more protected from the elements.
When Should The Wheel Bearing Flange Be Replaced?
The hub flange is ground zero for pulsation problems. Any runout in the flange will be magnified by the rotor. But, when do you replace a flange, stub axle or an entire hub unit? The answer can be confusing and will take some math and a micrometer.
Memory Lane: Nuts, Bolts And Screws – Finishing A Chevy Restoration Project
Gary Goms discusses the mechanical challenges of restoring a truck that he began maintaining when he went to work in a gas station – back in 1957!
Wheel Bearings: Pressing Bearings In Less Time With Fewer Comebacks
Servicing these bearings requires a little bit more finesse and tools when compared to hub units or tapered roller bearings. With the right tools and information, these jobs can be moneymakers.