About 400miles ago I installed new front wheelbearings/races. Yesterday I was doing a routine check on the car and I noticed that the drivers side wheel was very slightly loose. I pulled the pads and found play in the wheel bearings. I readjusted the spindle nut to correct the excessive play. The spindle nut was not loose, the locknut was nice and tight. I think I caught the problem before it ruined the bearings but only time will tell. Question is what caused this? My most likely explanation is that I didn't get one of the races completely seated in the hub/rotor and driving the car finished seating it for me..... I checked the other side and all is well. Done plenty of wheel bearings and never had this happen before. Any input appreciated. RT

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84' Mercedes Benz 300D Anthracite/black, 171K
03' Volkswagen Jetta TDI blue/black, 93K
93' Chevrolet C2500HD ExCab 6.5TD, Two-tone blue, 252K

Well, your grease can keep you from getting a good feel to start with... many instructions say to torque it down to a certain point.. then back off and take down again... and turn the wheel some in the process....

Leathermang,
I followed the advice of another board member. Tighten spindle nut until you almost cannot turn the rotor, then back off 1/3rd turn. Seems about right with how I do other cars.... When I corrected the loose side I had to turn the spindle nut 3/4turn to fully tighten the rotor, then backed off 1/3rd. So it was about 1/3rd loose..... I hope its okay now. RT

__________________
When all else fails, vote from the rooftops!
84' Mercedes Benz 300D Anthracite/black, 171K
03' Volkswagen Jetta TDI blue/black, 93K
93' Chevrolet C2500HD ExCab 6.5TD, Two-tone blue, 252K

Don't overlook the importance of the right quantity of grease. After packing the bearings themselves, you need to put enough grease inside the hub, that once centrifugal force distributes it, there is enough so that it makes a cylinder with a diameter the same as the smallest bearings inner race.

Good luck,

It's possible to leave a race just slightly above seated and have it pull down.

If the problem re-occurs, as it did on my Volvo, replace the bearing again, it's defective or you got dirt it the grease somehow.

Peter

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1972 220D ?? miles
1988 300E 200,012
1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles
1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000
1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs!