Re: Front wheel bearings

Posted by PackardV8 On 2012/8/26 7:03:09

Quote from BH:
"My dad, who worked in both Packard and GM dealerships for many years, never torqued front wheel bearings, but would simply give the tire a good spin just before he cinched the castle nut with a pair of water pump pliers (aka - tongue and groove pliers, Channellocks, etc.) until it felt reasonably tight (neither loose nor binding), then proceed as directed"

What BH describes is standard procedure that i've seen done by many well seasoned mechanics for many decades accross a wide variety of auto's and i even still do it that way to this day.

The only detail i will add is that where he says "cinched the castel nut" i would describe as enuf 'torque' on the channellocks to resemble only the weight of ones arm in one quick drop of the arm. Probably about 10 foot pounds of torque using a torque wrench. Then back off or loosen castle nut to the NEAREST slot in the castel nut to get the cotter pin in.

And as BH indicates, rotate the wheel while cinching up the castle nut.

Bottom line:
Do not leave the nut tightened up tight at any torrque readingof say 5 to 15 ft-pounds . There has to to be some clearence in beariing. That clearence is determined by ONE slot of the castle nut.

So "torqueing wheel bearings" is somewhat of a misconception because it is not the final step of the adjustment. Backing off the castle nut ONE slot IS the final adjustment.