I had a shimmy between 60-70 on speedo for a long time. At slow speeds it felt like the brakes were dragging a little. So I finally jack it up and check the wheel bearings. Left front is loose right front maybe a little loose so, I tighten them up and go out for a drive. Things feel worse so I decide to do a visual on them. Yikes, both outers fell apart.
Dave
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Wow that's unnerving............
It is good that you found it before ? I just hate pounding out the races. Good luck Mark
wow. those are even worse than mine was.
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QUOTE (Headrage @ Jul 13 2005, 06:22 PM) |
Wow that's unnerving............ |
how are the spindles?
Jen
Have you cleaned those up, or were they that dry when removed? They look like they were never packed
At least 914s aren't like old fords, where the bearing is what holds the axle in.
http://infosite.com/~rufus/doh/
That bearing was about 8 months old. It's mate for the other side (that I hadn't gotten around to installing yet) had a defective seal upon close inspection. Needless to say I changed bearing brands.
Once after a 4 hour road trip I started to hear a roaring sound from the front end. Once I got to my destination I pulled the front tire, then pulled off the grease cap....... The grease poured out like soup.
Pulled the rotor and the bearing came out in pieces.
ahhhh, that was my first wheel bearing change.....sniff, sniff.....
QUOTE (bondo @ Jul 13 2005, 05:07 PM) |
At least 914s aren't like old fords, where the bearing is what holds the axle in. http://infosite.com/~rufus/doh/ That bearing was about 8 months old. It's mate for the other side (that I hadn't gotten around to installing yet) had a defective seal upon close inspection. Needless to say I changed bearing brands. |
QUOTE (DNHunt @ Jul 13 2005, 03:20 PM) |
So I finally jack it up and check the wheel bearings. Left front is loose right front maybe a little loose so, I tighten them up and go out for a drive. Things feel worse so I decide to do a visual on them. Yikes, both outers fell apart. Dave |
QUOTE (jr91472 @ Jul 13 2005, 08:30 PM) |
...grease poured out like soup... |
QUOTE (Mueller @ Jul 13 2005, 05:36 PM) | ||
had that happen to my Mach I.....the power slides around corners didn't help |
YIKES, DAVE, THAT LOOKS KIND OF NASTY,
QUOTE |
You are aware that you don't "tighten" bearings, right???? |
Dave, good thing you caught it brefore it siezed up at 60 or 70.
What wheels do you run ? And or do you use spacers?
For anyone who uses off set wheels or spacers, on the 914 bearings, keep an eye on them, The large offset wheels and spacers, don't put an even load on the small 914 bearing, the 911 bearing's (and front end) are a much better choice for spacers and large wheel offsets, due to the larger spindel and larger bearings.
The best choice for wheels, is a wheel with an equal, inner and outer wheel width , or as close as possible, for example: 8" wide wheel optimum would be 4" inner spacing and the outer 4", that way the wheel is putting an equal load on the bearing. Unlike a 6" inner spacing with a 2" outer spacing, The 6 inches is putting twice the load on the bearing (extra 2" leverage) thats always pressing the bearing one way.
But, I know, can only use what you can afford, just keep a closer eye on the front end, if you do use other than optimum spacing.
QUOTE (V6914 @ Jul 13 2005, 09:08 PM) |
Dave, good thing you caught it brefore it siezed up at 60 or 70. What wheels do you run ? And or do you use spacers? For anyone who uses off set wheels or spacers, on the 914 bearings, keep an eye on them, The large offset wheels and spacers, don't put an even load on the small 914 bearing, the 911 bearing's (and front end) are a much better choice for spacers and large wheel offsets, due to the larger spindel and larger bearings. The best choice for wheels, is a wheel with an equal, inner and outer wheel width , or as close as possible, for example: 8" wide wheel optimum would be 4" inner spacing and the outer 4", that way the wheel is putting an equal load on the bearing. Unlike a 6" inner spacing with a 2" outer spacing, The 6 inches is putting twice the load on the bearing (extra 2" leverage) thats always pressing the bearing one way. But, I know, can only use what you can afford, just keep a closer eye on the front end, if you do use other than optimum spacing. |
QUOTE (ArtechnikA @ Jul 13 2005, 06:06 PM) |
......it's best to REALLY clean out everything - like solvents and brake cleaners - chemically clean. DO NOT spin the bearings dry with compressed air. |
try washing out grease with solvent and then use brake clean or carb cleaner to wash out remaining deposits let air dry [ should take but a minute] then pack um up.
QUOTE (messix @ Jul 13 2005, 10:18 PM) | ||
you missed the mark a little on this. the wheel center line should line up center line of the hub[ or the center of the distance of the wheel bearings]. this puts the load of the wheel equal to both bearings. |
QUOTE (scruz914 @ Jul 14 2005, 02:44 AM) |
Could you expand on this? I take it you do not want to wash out the grease with solvent and then blow dry the bearings leaving residue from the solvent. |
I installed the wreaked bearings over the winter of 2003-4. They had a trip to WCC about a dozen AX and probably 12,000 miles total.
When I said tighten, I meant adjust the slop out. I did tighten the clamping nut.
I do run some extra offset to the outside (Empi's I'm afraid). I was aware of the extra loading of the outside bearings.
Dave
I never try to clean and repack my existing bearings. I just by new, packem' and install them. Thier so cheap, just get new. Cleaning old ones is a PITA.
Paul
QUOTE (URY914 @ Jul 14 2005, 09:56 AM) |
I never try to clean and repack my existing bearings. I just by new, packem' and install them. |
i'll tell ya. if i'm going through the hassle of taking the front end apart, it's new bearings and races. even trade dave. i spray oil on your car, but tell you your wheel shimmy is because of the wobbling left front tire that i saw when we were tearing up skate creek road. oh, no leaks!! . you get my pm?
k
I drove it into work this morning. smooth as glass with the new bearings. Kevin, the left front was the worst bearing.
Dave
QUOTE (DNHunt @ Jul 14 2005, 05:36 AM) |
I installed the wreaked bearings over the winter of 2003-4. They had a trip to WCC about a dozen AX and probably 12,000 miles total. When I said tighten, I meant adjust the slop out. I did tighten the clamping nut. I do run some extra offset to the outside (Empi's I'm afraid). I was aware of the extra loading of the outside bearings. Dave |
I suspect they were poorly adjusted for a good portion of the time. As I said I had a front end shimmy for quite a while. I wrote that off to tire balance and didn't check it out cause, it wasn't too bad until recently. I think the adjustment prior to the last drive really did them in. It's all speculation. I will say this, I won't ignore a shimmy next time.
Dave
QUOTE (ArtechnikA @ Jul 14 2005, 03:35 AM) |
it's tempting (and kinda fun - try it with a failed bearing sometime...) to hit the rollers with the compressed air stream and watch 'em spin around. high-speed, spinning, *unlubricated* rollers. not good. |
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