bearings

[Dfeland]

The way to check your bearings is not by feeling play. You have to visualy check the brearing and the race. Once a bearing starts to wear then it will pit and get grooves. You never know if someone just went in and just tightened them. My truck had 125,000 on it when I changed them and they were JUNK. Just MHO.

 

[redramnc]

Dfeland has a good point. I also listen for any noise the bearings make as I turn them with the shoes released (not dragging on the drum) before I disassemble them. A bearing that is starting to go will have a rumble to the sound that is different than a good bearing. It is kind of hard to explain until you have heard one. If you get to the point that the bearing is really gone it may actually have a catch in it as it turns but it will usually let you know before it gets that bad.



Endplay may tell you that the bearing is wearing but it depends on how loose or tight they were set previously. If the prior mechanic set them on the loose side then you might think they are worn by the endplay but they could just be needing to be set tighter. A visual inspection is the only way to tell if they are blued from overheating from being too tight or run without lube.



I have a 78 Dodge W200 with close to 300K on it that has the original rear bearings. I have checked them every time I have done the brakes and have never found any problems. The Dana 60 is almost bullet proof in my experience. Same goes for the Dana 44s in the W200 front and both ends of my Scouts.

 

[illflem]

Infrared temp gun is the modern method to check for worn bearings, u-joints, etc. Just look for large differences from one side to the other or excessive temps after a long drive, then do a visual.

 

[redramnc]

My technology is getting old... ...



I am so used to the old hands-on approach that I forgot the advantage of a mechanical laying-on-of-hands. With the price of IR thermometers dropping with every generation of heat detectors I may spring for one myself. Thanks for the tip, illflem.



Just realized there is one in the tool crib at work that could be useful. Um, I feel a field test coming on

 

[illflem]

redramnc, once you get a IR gun you'll find hundreds of uses for it. My main problem with a IR gun is remembering I have it when the need arises...