2wd drive wheel bearings->torque?

[Headshot zod]

I'm putting my front wheels back together. How much do you torque the nut? I saw in one post for a 4wd it was around 39 ft lbs and then back the nut off 130-155 degrees or so. Is this the same for 2wd?



thanks.

 

[Nate]

I'm not sure on the specs, but the way I do it is by feel. Bascially you want the hub to be able to turn freely with just a little bit of resistance.

 

[Headshot zod]

thats how I use to do it to tighten until you feel resistance and back off a little. I lost that stupid cd manual that doesn't work under windows xp. I never lost a deadtree manual.

 

[JLEONARD]

Spin the wheel while making the nut remove all the play out of the bearing. . omly enough torque to remove the play. Do this three or four times then the last time back it off only enough to get the cotter pin to assemble. If it assembles without backing off the nut so be it.

There should be almost no play after ward.

 

[Greenleaf]

I 'm thinking that you want like . 002/. 004 end thrust when your completed. By the way you will want to seat the bearings new or original. You simply turn the wheel and torque the spindle nut to something like 50/60 lb ft torque, back off then do as jay say. Even if jay is an "omly" fellow.

 

[1stgen4evr]

Jay and Steve have covered it but I will throw in my two cents. Shoot for zero preload and zero free play. Like most, I 'feel' for that spot.



James

 

[Nate]

Yes I forgot to mention I tighten it up fairly tight, then loosen until the resistance in the hub feels right. Like Greenlead said, that is to seat the bearings basically.



If anything, I would say a little looser would be better than too tight. If you put it too tight, you will burn up the bearings. As the bearings get hot, the expand, so that bit of loosness goes away. Same reason for backlash in a R&P setup.

 

[Paychk]

Gospel from the tapered bearing experts

 

[3grumpy]

wheel bearings preload

All the above and if you can move the bearing washer with a screwdriver it is not too tight

 

[DKasper]

I do mine like Jay -- 30k since the last replacement/repack and they are spinning beatifully!

 

[Headshot zod]

Thanks for all the really great info. The timken link was great. Those bearings are a funny thing nothing exact about them at all. Sort of like the O-rings on the Challenger.