Hi Mark ,
It has been my experience that you do not want to over tighten the "NUT"
20 or so years ago when I first bought my Sprite , I was too poor to
properly
maintain it . When I discovered front wheel bearing play I over tightened
the "NUT"
until the play went away . A few days latter while driving on the LA freeway
the left front of the car dropped several inches and the wheel bounced down
the road ahead of me . Thank god nobody was hurt ! I'm not sure if the
failure
was caused by the bearing seizing and twisting the stub axle off , or the
axle
being stretched to the point of failure . I replaced the stub axle and all
wheel
bearings . I've never had a problem since . BTW it is time for me to do the
job
again . This time in addition to new bearings (and seals) I will have the
stub
axles magnafluxed . Good Luck ,
Mark Hanna
AN5L/13731
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Mark Endicott [SMTP:endicott@nashville.com]
> Sent: Friday, October 30, 1998 1:19 PM
> To: Ulix Goettsch
> Cc: David Ramsey; spridgets@Autox.Team.Net
> Subject: Re: A question on wheel bearings
>
>
>
> Now I am confused too. Just last week I tried to tighten up my front
> hubs to eliminate a small amount of play in the bearings. I torqued
> the nut to 45 lb. and found that I still had some movement in the
> hub. I cranked on them to the point where the play was gone but then
> I couldn't get the cotter pin in the castle nut. If I loosened the
> nut to the point where the cotter pin would go in they were too
> loose. If I tightened them up to the point where the pin would go in
> the wheel was locked solid. My conclusion was that I needed a spacer
> (shim) to correct the problem. I also understand that there is not
> normally a shim used with the midget wire wheel hubs. My only
> conclusion was that I had a new set of substandard bearings or that
> there was some wear somewhere where I couldn't see it. So, should I
> find shims, drive it with a little play, replace the bearings again or
> just forget that there is a problem?
>
> Mark
> 70 Midget
> Nashville
>
> Ulix Goettsch wrote:
> >
> > Jeff,
> > the spacer is supposed to be firmly squeezed. You tighten the nut until
> > it is. I have never seen shims used. I guess they would be necessary
> > when, after tightening the nut, the wheel was locked up.
> > Similarily, I had a brand new wheel bearing that still had a little play
> > after the nut was tightened and considered machining a little off the
> > spacer. I didn't, but would like to know if this is common practice of
> if
> > everyone's front wheel bearings are perfect after they are installed.
> > Ulix
> >
> > On Fri, 30 Oct 1998, Jeff Boatright wrote:
> >
> > > This whole spacer question was hashed about on the mgs list also. I've
> > > replaced both sets of front bearings and both sides had the spacers
> but no
> > > shims. First, are there supposed to be shims, and second, if not, how
> would
> > > the spacer add strength since it's not long enough to be firmly
> squeezed
> > > between the inner and outer bearings? Or is it? (This is starting to
> sound
> > > like an X-files thang...)
> > >
> > > Crash, I loved that note. :)
> > >
> > > Jeff
> > >
> > > At 12:31 PM -0500 10/30/98, David Ramsey wrote:
> > >
> > >
> > > > Sorry guys I can't resist, I run tapered cone roller bearings from
> timken
> > > >without the spacer in my hubs. This allows you adjust the pre-load
> on the
> > > >bearings and kicks butt when compared to ball bearings. I thought
> > > >everybody knew that, but when I posted it before I found out that my
> > > >wheels are going to fall off because the axles are so weak on these
> cars
> > > >that they need the bearing spacer to support them. Was I surprised
> that
> > > >this spacer that gives the ball bearings some kind of pre-load (not
> really
> > > >it just spaces them apart) is the only thing between me and the front
> > > >wheels on my car flying off. Last month I hit a pot hole on I-80
> east of
> > > >Reno that threw my car into the air and had an axle snapped I still
> would
> > > >run the tapered cone roller bearings! I was surprised the whole
> front of
> > > >the car didn't break off. It was so bad that I spilled my beer,
> dropped my
> > > >cel-phone (I was talking to my lawyer), and worst of all I lost the
> draft
> > > >of the "triple trailer" 18 wheeler. OK you can all go back to more
> > > >important things on the list now.
> > > > Crash
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Jeffrey H. Boatright, PhD
> > > Senior Editor, Molecular Vision
> > > http://www.molvis.org/molvis
> > > Mailto:jboatri@emory.edu
> > > 404-778-4113
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> > Ulix __/__,__
> > ..........................................................
> (_o____o_)....
> > '67 Sprite
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