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Old 04-12-2006, 07:19 PM
Kebowers Kebowers is offline
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Join Date: Jul 2000
Posts: 638
wheel bearing failure

If you used your fingers to tighten the adjusting nut--it is HIGHLY unlikely you over tightened, unless the bearing/hub were real cold at the time. Heat up could result in overload and rapid failure by spalling,etc.

Mixing greases can be deadly to bearings. NEVER mix types or brands unless you are certain they are fully compatible. Greases made from different 'soaps' are not compatible.

Once I consullted with nuclear power plant operator on this--they had used a different than OEM grease in all the valve actuators (more than 2000!) without completely stripping and cleaning out the old. I HAD to advise them to completely disassemble and clean them, replacing all the seals. The greases were different soaps, and synthetic oil vs mineral oil--totally incompatible. Cost them several million$. Only parts more costly than medical are nuclear!

In all my years of driving the world over, from pedal powered bicycles to very fast jet aircraft, never had a wheel bearing fail suddenly like reported. Have had dirt ingress chew them up on plows. Have had 'sealed ' rear axle bearings on '59 Ford Fairline fail from impact caused spalling due to very rough country roads. I wonder what caused your failure?

Modern wheel bearings just do not fail.
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