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Wheel Bearings
Most wheel bearings are sealed assemblies today and are capable of going well beyond 100,000 miles, but they still
need to be inspected periodically for wear and looseness. How often? Anytime the brakes are serviced, anytime a
front or rear axle shaft is replaced, and anytime a steering or ride problem occurs that might be bearing related.
Symptoms include cyclic or speed-related noises such as squeaks, chirps, growls or buzzing while driving, or steering
looseness or wander.
On vehicles with serviceable wheel bearings, regular maintenance is required to keep the bearings in good condition.
This involves removing the bearings, cleaning them, inspecting the bearings and races, repacking the bearings with
high-temperature wheel bearing grease (never ordinary chassis grease), replacing the old grease seals with new
ones (old seals should never be reused), and readjusting the bearings after they've been reinstalled.
If serviceable bearings are neglected (which they often are), they can fail prematurely and unexpectedly. A catastrophic
failure may allow the wheel to separate from the vehicle.
The wheel bearings on boat trailers, in particular, need special care and frequent cleaning because they are often
submerged in water. The same would be true for 4x4 trucks or any other vehicle that's driven off road through hub-deep
water.
All types of wheel bearings can be checked by raising the vehicle and rotating each wheel by hand. Any noticeable
roughness or noise would be grounds for removing and inspecting the bearings. The wheel should also be rocked to
check for any looseness.
As a rule, there should be no play on most FWD cars, but up to 0.010 in. of play in the front bearings may be acceptable
on RWD applications with adjustable bearings. If there's play in a sealed bearing assembly, replacement is required.
But if the bearings are the adjustable variety, a simple adjustment might be all that's needed. A "loose"
wheel bearing should never be adjusted without first inspecting it. Bearings don't loosen up under normal use.
FORKLIFT
OPERATION AND SERVICE.
BE SURE TO VISIT THE HOME PAGE FOR INFORMATION ON LIFT TRUCKS REPAIR,
SERVICE, TROUBLESHOOTING, AND EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT FORKLIFTS AND THEIR USE.
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