[TechUpdate WHEEL BEARINGS

By Andrew Markel, Editor, Brake & Front End

The Proper Removal Of Cartridge Wheel Bearings

Removing a cartridge-style wheel bearing can be

like pulling a tooth. Sometimes it comes out in one pull, but
sometimes it requires emergency surgery. This can be a service
opportunity for your shop, with a lot of import vehicles equipped
with these bearings in the front and rear. While the fundamentals
of the job have not changed since the 1980s, what has changed is
the complexity of the knuckle and the bearing seals, as well as the
materials from which the knuckles and axles are made.

64 May 2016 | Import-Car.com

[TechUpdate WHEEL BEARINGS

ZERO PLAY the delicate surfaces. Also, the

rattling caused by an impact
Noise is still the main indication wrench is not good for some
of a bad bearing. Bearing noise limited-slip differentials. Treat
will change as the vehicle is the wiring harness of the wheel
turned and the bearing is loaded. speed sensor with care when
Some vehicles may make a you remove the wheel speed
chirping noise that changes as sensor. Even the slightest tug on
the brakes are applied. As a a connector can cause issues and
rule of thumb, there should be ABS codes.
zero play in the bearing when Look at the other components
you tug on the wheel at 12 and like tie rods, ball joints and
6. But, even some bad bearings control arms. This is the time to
might have zero play. Instead, recommend replacement if you
the primary symptom of a worn see anything in need of repair.
bearing will be an erratic
wheel speed sensor
signal or a wheel
speed sensor
code in the ABS
module. This is
the result of the
same amount
of play under
load forcing
the seal out of
the groove in
the outer race.

PULLING
TEETH
Removing a
cartridge-style wheel
bearing is not an easy task.
Pressing out the bearing requires
significant disassembly and force
to pull the outer race from the
knuckle.
The main precaution you need
to take is to not use an impact
wrench to remove the axle nut
because an impact wrench on
some vehicles can damage the
needle bearings on CV joints.
While an impact wrench may
not seem as powerful as the
engine, if the suspension is at
full droop, the angles of the
joint could damage some of
KNUCKLE & AXLE
INSPECTION
Once the old bearing has been
removed, take the time to clean
and inspect the bearing bore
and the surfaces of the axle that
make contact with the bearing.
Any debris or imperfections can
prevent the bearing from seating
properly and prevent the pre-
load torque adjustment from
being accurate.
Check the bore for roundness

66 May 2016 | Import-Car.com

[TechUpdate WHEEL BEARINGS

using a snap bore gauge.
The gauge should rotate
in the bore easily. Any
distortion in the bore can
cause a new bearing to
fail prematurely. It can
also make installing the
new bearing to the proper debris or imperfections can prevent
depth impossible.
INSTALLATION
When you remove
the new bearing from
the box, you will notice the
bearing is difficult to turn. This
is normal. The grease in the
new bearing is designed to be
thicker to prevent the balls or
rollers from rubbing on the races
during transport and causing
surface damage. As the bearing
Once the old bearing has been
removed, take the time to clean
and inspect the bearing bore and
the surfaces of the axle that make
contact with the bearing. Any
the bearing from seating properly
and prevent the pre-load torque
adjustment from being accurate.
heats up after installation, the
solids in the grease melt and
change.
When pressing in the new
bearing, make sure the adapter
does not come in contact with
the seal, and make sure the seal
with the tone ring faces inward.
When pressing the bearing into
the bore, make sure it is not
cocked or misaligned. After the
bearing is in the bore, make
sure the seal with the tone ring
is free from debris.
KILLED BY A CURB
The reason most bearings fail
is twofold. First, a significant
impact can cause the balls
to make a mark in the outer
race. When a vehicle hits a
curb, pothole or other object
in its path, for example, the
force is transferred to the small
surface area of the bearing. The
impact may cause damage to the
races and the rollers/balls. This
damage is called brinelling.
Brinell marks may or may not
cause the bearing to make noise
immediately, but, as the marks
keep rotating, they will damage
the entire bearing. If the impact
is great enough, the pre-load on
the bearing could change, which
leads to runout and endplay. This
damage can also cause hot spots
that destroy the grease in the
bearing. When the forces of extra
play and lack of grease work
together, the condition of the
bearing can rapidly deteriorate.
This eventually causes noise and
failure.
Second, on a cartridge-style
bearing, look at the condition of
the seals for evidence that the
pre-load was destroyed. The balls
will impact the inner seal, and the
reluctor ring on the outer seal will
show signs of heat damage. When
the ring separates from the rubber
material, the wheel speed sensor
stops working. The tone ring is
magnetic and can be detected
using a card that locates the
permanent magnets in the seal. IC

68 May 2016 | Import-Car.com