Outer Bearing Wobble

[captain_ak]

I am new to the boards and think the advice is awesome, I am hoping someone can help me out with this question.
I recently serviced the wheel bearings on my trailer and noticed that the outer bearing assembly didn't fit snugly within the outer race. In fact, with the race, bearing and outer seal in place, I could insert my finger into the hug and move the bearing. Meaning it didn't fit snugly into place like the inner bearing assembly. Can anyone verify for me if this is normal? I have one hub that has been running warmer than the other which prompted the service. I replaced the bearings and after a quick test drive it is still running warm. Can anyone verify if the outer bearing should have some play after the outer seal is put back on?
Thanks!

 

[Mark42]

Re: Outer Bearing Wobble

Jeeeeessuuuuusss!!!!!! Whatareyoudoingstickingyourfingerinthere? Holy (edit: cow)!

This is the procedure. Take the bearings out, yep, its a messy job with all that grease. Clean them up with parts cleaner. If they look smooth and no corrosion on bearing or race, pack 'em and re-install.

Otherwise you are (edit: out of luck).

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: Outer Bearing Wobble

Neither inner nor outer bearings should have any appreciable play. The rollers should seat against the races. Some people say they should be pre-loaded and others say they should be slightly loose. At any rate, loose to me would mean only a couple of thousandths clearance. Since they are roller bearings, they will work with a good bit of play but the load bearing capacity will be reduced, and allowing the hub to move on the spindle will prematurely wear-out the inner seal allowing grease out and water in. You know what happens to the bearings next.

Now: you have me confused by the term outer seal. There is no outer seal except for the dust cap or Bearing Buddies and with them in place, you obviously can't reach in and wiggle the bearing. Check that you have the proper sized thrust washer under the spindle nut. If this washer is missing, sometimes the nut will not go down far enough to properly seat the bearing. Also, if your hub is the cheap kind with 4 or 5 staked dents to position the outer races, check to be sure that the staked internal "bumps" are not worn, allowing the outer races to seat too far into the hub. This again will cause the nut to not seat the bearings in their races. Quick and dirty fix is to add another washer. Not the best solution and new hubs with bearings only cost between 50-65 bucks so replacement doesn't hurt that much.

 

[Dunaruna]

Re: Outer Bearing Wobble

Hi captain_ak,welcome to iboats!

What you have described does not sound like a normal trailer bearing assembly, maybe you have something out of the ordinary. Can you post a pic of the offending bearing/hub assembly?

 

[rndn]

Re: Outer Bearing Wobble

Pics would help as there should never be enough play to wobble it as you state.

 

[bjcsc]

Re: Outer Bearing Wobble

Excellent post Frank. The only thing I would add is that sometimes people use more than 1 thrust washer and sometimes they use one with a smaller diameter hole than will fit over the shoulder of the spindle (too lazy to find the correct one). The setup can work if the correct size washer is installed first, but will not work if the smaller one is installed first as it stops on the shoulder and keeps the nut from tightening to the bearing...

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Outer Bearing Wobble

I wonder if the correct bearing is in there.

 

[akreinhop]

Re: Outer Bearing Wobble

Thank you all for the advice! To be more specifc, after I have taken the hub off and I remove the old bearings, when I place the hub on the workbench with the front down (the side where I place the bearing buddy) when I am looking at the back, the race is already seated, I then insert the new bearing and install the rear seal - once this is all put together, when I use my finger to add some grease around the bearing, I noticed that if I pushed on one side, that it would slide upwards and vice versa within the race.

As if the rear seal was not holding the bearing in place..now, when installed on the spindle, this would hold it in place somewhat, but I was just curious if this was normal.

I would take pics, but I have already put it back together on the trailer and it seems to work. At least, it allowed me to take the boat to the dealer for other engine issues...

 

[rndn]

Re: Outer Bearing Wobble

Unless the hub is installed onto the shaft the bearing will wobble around quite a bit as there is no pressure holding it in place. The seal just keeps the bearing from falling out as well as provide a water tight seal once installed onto the axle. From what I understand of your last post the situation is normal and nothing to worry about. From your first post I thought you had that kind of play after the hub was installed onto the axle.

 

[rndn]

Re: Outer Bearing Wobble

One other thing as it sounds like you may be new to installing wheel bearings. There are several good articles on here and other web sites for the proper procedure for seating and tightening bearings. Maybe someone else can post a link to the directions for you as I can't seem to find the link right now.

 

[dingbat]

Re: Outer Bearing Wobble

If I understand this correctly there is nothing wrong with your rear bearing.

The front bearing is much smaller in diameter and has a deeper angle than the rear bearing. The smaller diameter and steeper angle makes it very hard to be able to ?rock? the bearing carrier in the race. The larger diameter and lower angle of the rear bearing allows the rear bearing carrier to "rock" much easier than the front.

The rear seal is only a shaft seal and does nothing to maintain or support the alignment of the rear bearing assembly.

 

[captain_ak]

Re: Outer Bearing Wobble

Thank you all...I was hoping to hear that this is normal!