Hub a little tight or a little loose

[cougar15]

I just finished redoing my hubs, new bearings, races, seals, the whole shot. When I was attaching the hubs to the axle, the nut stoped at a spot where it blocked the hole for the cotter pin. The instructions I was following said that I should finger tighten the nut and if the cotter pin hole was covered then tighten with a wrench just enough to expose the hole. After I finished I have been reading on the forums and I have seen it suggested that you should finger tighten then if the hole is covered back off the nut untill you can get to the hole. So now I am concerned that I have over tightend the nut. I had to tighten about an 1/8 to a 1/4 inch past finger tight to expose the hole, does this sound like it will be too tight? We are planning on towing the boat to the cottage next weekend (150 miles one way) and I want to be as sure as possible that everything is right. Also, I've heard it said that the hubs should get warm but not hot but how warm is warm. If you can touch the hub without having to remove you fingers quickly is that a pretty good indication that they are just warm?

 

[tommays]

Re: Hub a little tight or a little loose

Normaly I would tighten the nut and rotate the hub to give the grease and bearings some time to get to there normal clearance

At that point i go finger tight and will go a bit more ifs its close to the next hole BUT if i had to turn a full 1/6 to the next hole that would be on the tight side

If you have the tire on its a litter easery to feel the play if the tire has a LOT of play your two lose

If you jack up a car wheel without a drive axle it should feel the same ,free rolling with very littel play


tommays

 

[craze1cars]

Re: Hub a little tight or a little loose

I agree with Tommays....your post makes no mention of whether you preloaded the bearings properly. If you didn't, you may actually be too loose. Here's the generally accepted procedure and you can easily do it anytime you feel like it:

1. Raise wheel.
2. Remove cotter pin.
3. Spin the wheel while simultaneously tighetning the nut to about 30 ft lbs (a very firm wrist tightening with a short wrench).
4. Stop the wheel from spinning.
5. Back off nut with wrench (do not turn wheel).
6. Finger tighten nut, if the holes don't line up, back it off. Insert pin.

That's my procedure. And the one recommended in most axle owner's manuals. I much prefer a little loose as opposed to a little tight. Keeps the heat under control. When done properly you will likely feel just a BARELY perceptible amount of wobble when the wheel is raised and you try to rock it.

 

[raylab]

Re: Hub a little tight or a little loose

[Just in case you're not convinced: I repacked my bearings and tightened them the way it is described here: spin wheel, tighten nut, back off to 1'st hole the pin will slide into, done. Drove appr. 32 miles and the hub was still cool to the touch. Then I brought the trailer in for a new tire. Watched him tighten the castle nut: used a hammer and screwdriver to set the nut, then tightened to the next hole the cotter pin would fit (only had to go a little bit or I would have stopped him). Drove home: appr. 15 miles and the hub was very warm to the touch, not hot, but close to it. So I then reset the nut the correct way and went on a 6 hour trip w/o any problems.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Hub a little tight or a little loose

Everytning needs a little play. Overtightening any bearing will put added stresses to it and as has been said above will make it run hotter. It also shortens the bearings life considerably. Needs to have just a fraction of play in there. I agree with the method described above by craze1cars. That is great advice.

 

[byacey]

Re: Hub a little tight or a little loose

If you can't feel a little play with the tire raised off the ground, they're too tight. I always back the nut off until the hole lines up. Also, don't re-use cotter pins. They are hardened steel and weaken considerably once they are bent more than once.

 

[Dunaruna]

Re: Hub a little tight or a little loose

[colour=blue]

Everytning needs a little play. Overtightening any bearing will put added stresses to it .......

Tapered roller bearings - yes.

"Every bearing - no.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Hub a little tight or a little loose

[colour=blue]

Everytning needs a little play. Overtightening any bearing will put added stresses to it .......

Tapered roller bearings - yes.

"Every bearing - no.

Straight bearings believe it or not are manufactured with a hint of play in them. If they were "size for size" fit they would have a very short lifespan. Crankshaft bearings, camshaft bearings and every bearing made must have a little clearance built into it. (miniscule amount) but it must be there. The heat treatment of the hardened surfaces is the next most critical part of a bearings life.
Most taper bearing roller crumblings are caused by them being over tight.