Wheel bearings

[Pulsynetic]

Hi folks,

I have a small Esterel folding caravan, which last year I fitted new wheel bearings.

Can any one tell me if these should be a pre loaded bearing or just tightened enough to take out the slack, which I then back off a tad, to give room for some expansion, although they always seem to run a bit warm.

Is this normal or do I need to tighten them and if yes to how much, or back them off a bit more to give more play. If I leave no play at all they run quite hot, so do I need to give the bearings more play???

There is nothing in the handbook about this, so hopefully someone out there can advise me.

Many thanks

Ian.

Any thoughts on this would be much appreciated

 

[gary]

There is a very distinct difference between the two types of bearing.

Bearings that require a pre-load are of the plain roller type and fixed in a matching pair with a spacer between, the others are a separate odd sized pair and tapered with no spacer.

Taper types will soon lock if over tighten while pre-load types will continue to turn regardless of how tight you make make them

 

[JTQ]

As Gary states our taper bearings are still able to turn without play; however they will be damaged if run like this. Heat expanding the housing tightens them even further often with fatal results to them.

By far the safest way to set them up is with the minimum play that the castellated nut will allow, but there must always be just a trace of play.

 

[Pulsynetic]

Gary and JTQ,

Many thanks for your comments and is as I thought it might be, taper bearings which the caravan has, should have some free play.

This is how I have set them, perhaps a tad more play may be needed, will have to check them again to see how much play is there.

Thanks again.

Regards,

Ian.

 

[gary]

Always check play with wheel on, play is exaggerated at the circumference of the wheel and the slightest here is good enough.

Warmth may also be just be from the brakes being used, binding due to handbrake not fully released or drums/handbrake incorrectly adjusted perhaps?

 

[Pulsynetic]

Hi Gray,

Thanks for thr tips, will try, when it stops raining for 5 minutes, to have a look at it this weekend.

As far as I know the brakes are OK, but will also check them just in case.

Regards,

Ian.

 

[xtrailman]

Gp

As gary says, the heat is probably from the brakes, but heat on the drum is perfectly normal, and if you have just parked up after extensive use of the brakes, car or van then you will quite "took back" how hot they get.

 

[Pulsynetic]

Hi Ray,

Thanks, that is quite right, small amount of braking soon heats things up a bit.

The wheel turn freely, so I don't think they are binding at all, but hope to have a look at them over the weekend, been laid up all winter, so a good look, clean etc, won't do any harm, I'm sure.

I used a high melting point grease when I fitted the new baerings last year, called Lucas X-tra Heavy Duty. Which according to the label, is more than enough for my purposes. High temperature, High speed, Water resistant, Extreme pressure, Irregular maintenance, for Heavy Duty Trucks, Farm equipment etc etc.

Unless someone knows of a better grease to use.

Regards,

Ian.

 

[aidan_374417972]

taped wheel bearing can have a little bit of play but when fitting new ones there should be very little if any the more play you have this is going to wear the bearing s out i would adjust them once a year the way i do them is like you said ***,slack,***,slack,*** the i do it a couple of times is to let the bearing settle in

 

[Pulsynetic]

Thanks aidan, I did do as you say ***, slack when fitting the new bearings. No play at all on them and they really got hot, so backed them off a bit to give some movement.

Hope to have a look at them agaian today, now its not so windy.

Regards,

Ian.

 

[colin_374340395]

Hi Ray,

Thanks, that is quite right, small amount of braking soon heats things up a bit.

The wheel turn freely, so I don't think they are binding at all, but hope to have a look at them over the weekend, been laid up all winter, so a good look, clean etc, won't do any harm, I'm sure.

I used a high melting point grease when I fitted the new baerings last year, called Lucas X-tra Heavy Duty. Which according to the label, is more than enough for my purposes. High temperature, High speed, Water resistant, Extreme pressure, Irregular maintenance, for Heavy Duty Trucks, Farm equipment etc etc.

Unless someone knows of a better grease to use.

Regards,

Ian.

use car c v grease very high melting point will not harden with age soon see if taper bearings nut will be nearly finger tight usuaslly 32 mm or 24mm tighten up tight to set bearings then back off till slight play dont forget spilt pin aleays use new pin dont over grease the bearings otherwise it will comtanate the brake shoes