Front hubs have wiggle

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acudanut

Front hubs have wiggle

Unread post by acudanut » June 16th, 2020, 11:32 am

After a rebuild front end (moving parts) I put the front tires back on.. I then looked for anything not right. I got some wiggle room (slop) in the bearing hubs area ? (where the front axles bolt to). BOTH SIDES. (when I tried moving the tires.) left and right, up and down,I got wiggle/movement. All done while the jeep was up in the air our of course.
Looking for ideas. Thanks.
Last edited by acudanut on July 10th, 2020, 10:52 pm, edited 2 times in total.

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m3a1
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Re: Front hubs have wiggle

Unread post by m3a1 » June 16th, 2020, 1:24 pm

First, tell us EXACTLY what work you performed, what you removed and/or what you replaced.

Cheers,
TJ

acudanut

Re: Front hubs have wiggle

Unread post by acudanut » June 16th, 2020, 10:20 pm

Every Ball Joint, tie rod and drive axles.

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Re: Front hubs have wiggle

Unread post by lpcoating » June 16th, 2020, 11:13 pm

As in the bearings have excessive play? Did you torque them to the manual spec?

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Re: Front hubs have wiggle

Unread post by m3a1 » June 17th, 2020, 2:48 am

If you installed these new components and did not remove the shafts from the hub during that process, you have probably just revealed a pre-existing issue with your hub bearings - one that was likely disguised by other worn steering and suspension components. Check bearing preload manually by lifting the front tire(s) off the ground, securing the vehicle against falling, then grasping each tire at the 12- and 6 o'clock positions and check for runout (wobble). Obviously, making such a check at the 3 & 9 oclock positions would result in the steering allowing for movement which, to the unwary, could be interpreted as wobble.

If a tire/wheel wobbles, and if you have not inspected or repacked your bearings recently it would be wise to remove the spindle and bearings from the hub and examine your bearings and bearing races and spindle for unusual wear and sufficient lubrication. Also examine your seals and the surfaces on the spindle that the seals ride against.

If you have serviced your bearings recently and if your check reveals even the slightest wobble, preload needs to be reset. This process is detailed here - http://g838.org/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=12204&start=270.

On other subjects, did you install your ball joints using proper torque settings for the hardware that holds them to the control arm? Over-torquing might result in stripped or broken bolts, a problem which may well be hidden from view resulting in loose ball joints (which would be extremely dangerous, by the way).

The same thing applies to re-mounting the control arms. If my memory serves me correctly I believe you replaced at least one control arm, yes? Are the alignment shims that were supposed to be in there still in there?

Are your coil springs properly seated in the lower control arm?

Are your front shocks properly oriented and securely mounted?

Double check all your work.

Cheers,
TJ

acudanut

Re: Front hubs have wiggle

Unread post by acudanut » June 17th, 2020, 11:25 pm

All bearings inside the hubs have been repacked.
Yes to all the the other questions.

acudanut

Re: Front hubs have wiggle

Unread post by acudanut » July 10th, 2020, 10:55 pm

M3A1 i thank you for your input. Just disappointed no body else here has any other ideas.

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Re: Front hubs have wiggle

Unread post by m3a1 » July 10th, 2020, 11:24 pm

Glad to be of assistance.

If everything else has checked out and you still cannot get those hubs to run true, consider the possibility that someone has installed an under-sized bearing (and probably never changed out the bearing race either). Have you checked them to be sure they are the correct size? An undersized bearing or one that is not size-matched to the race would produce that kind of wobble and it would be impossible to set any kind of pre-load.

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Re: Front hubs have wiggle

Unread post by rickf » July 11th, 2020, 9:40 am

acudanut wrote:
July 10th, 2020, 10:55 pm
M3A1 i thank you for your input. Just disappointed no body else here has any other ideas.
TJ pretty much nailed it on the loose bearings so really nothing more for anyone to add. There is no sense in a bunch of guessing if the diagnosis has been done and answered.
1964 M151A1
1984 M1008
1967 M416
04/1952 M100
12/1952 M100- Departed
AN/TSQ-114A Trailblazer- Gone

acudanut

Re: Front hubs have wiggle

Unread post by acudanut » July 11th, 2020, 11:48 am

I am betting I will need new races and bearings. FUN. lol

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Re: Front hubs have wiggle

Unread post by m3a1 » July 11th, 2020, 12:45 pm

Piece of cake. (a quick tutorial on page 19 of Beverly Hillbillies)

Since the bearings are really suspect at this point, you might have a little trouble with removing the bearing that is on the spindle but I think that can be sorted out by using, not the original tool (which, by the way, is very very expensive), but the inexpensive Harbor Freight two-jaw bearing puller rig which ought to work very nicely if you are careful.

Now is the time for installing new grease/oil seals if you have them. If you have a wobble, they're almost certainly toast so you had better figure on needing them.

Remember, the bearing on the spindle is the one that is usually the least maintained (because it's hardest to get off) and so, it is the one you should look at most carefully.

To the matter of removing the races from the hub, I usually use a brass drift which is about the size of my index finger (and you thought I was going to compare it to something else...) and with some equal tapping at four compass points I'm betting your races will come right out. This is one of the easiest jobs on any vehicle, short of changing a light bulb. I've never had a bearing race hang up. Ensure that the seat for the race is fully cleaned out and visually inspected before installing the new one.

Get all this done and your MUTT will be very, very happy.

Cheers,
TJ

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Re: Front hubs have wiggle

Unread post by rickf » July 11th, 2020, 4:44 pm

m3a1 wrote:
July 11th, 2020, 12:45 pm
Piece of cake. (a quick tutorial on page 19 of Beverly Hillbillies)



To the matter of removing the races from the hub, I usually use a brass drift which is about the size of my index finger (and you thought I was going to compare it to something else...)
Cheers,
TJ
Open door, OPEN DOOR!!!!! But I will let it go just this one time. :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :lol: :lol:
1964 M151A1
1984 M1008
1967 M416
04/1952 M100
12/1952 M100- Departed
AN/TSQ-114A Trailblazer- Gone

acudanut

Re: Front hubs have wiggle

Unread post by acudanut » July 11th, 2020, 4:59 pm

Thanks Guys, where do I shop for inner and outer bearings with races ? This is for my A2. !!!!

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Re: Front hubs have wiggle

Unread post by rickf » July 11th, 2020, 9:25 pm

Considering where you are located I would say Red River, Rapco or Frontline.
1964 M151A1
1984 M1008
1967 M416
04/1952 M100
12/1952 M100- Departed
AN/TSQ-114A Trailblazer- Gone

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Re: Front hubs have wiggle

Unread post by Husker » July 11th, 2020, 9:51 pm

I was able to get Timkin bearings With races us made off amazon LM501349 with LM501310
And SKF bearing Chinese made at Napa Same bearing number
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