i keep blowing out the right side hub bearing and i have know idea why. i just put a new timken bearing in about 8 months ago and then parked my truck and went overseas, came back and now the bearing has about half inch worth of play in it from top to bottom.... and is poping when i drive it at low speeds, but when on the freeway it doesnt seem to make any sound.... i notice on the stub shaft on the otherside there is like a backing plate that pushes up agaist the bearing and is wondering if this could be my problem... the passengerside does not have it... or can it be a allinement problem? or even tires... please send your insight.... i need help with this.... THANK YOU

 

do you mud with it alot? or any off road. The mud or sand will destroy them fast. Also if your not puting them on tight enough i think that could cause it to. Also what size tires do you have?

 

on a 4x4 Diesel? That is odd. There really isn't much you can do wrong install them. Has the truck ever been wrecked?

 

Popping? That sounds like the ujoint. The extra vibration from that could limit the life of the bearing. And I don't know what plate you are talking about, but both sides should look the SAME. And if it was fine when you parked it and bad when you came back, I'd find out who else has a set of your keys

 

is the truck lifted? or gigantic tires? or have wheel spacers? or too little backspace on the wheels? or do you have a substitute driver while you're gone like zman said?

that front end should be bulletproof unless you've got spacers.

any chance the play is ball joints?

 

I was thinking ball joints as well.....


i had a timken bearing that blew in 2 months....returned it, and got a new one with no problems....maybe it was just a defect.....and you say "Keep blowing", how many times has it blown?

 

i have a 3 inch lift. its the spacer kit i believe. and nobody but my mom and dad has the keys to my truck. nobody has bin driving it thats for sure.... i dont do very much offroading, i just changed the bearing in january and then parked in feb of 2010. somebody else has told me to check the ball joints also. im running a 285 75 r16 tire. thats not that big. any ideas of what to look for please let me know.. thank you

 

ive done 4 on the same side in the last 3 years. now im going on my 5th one..

 

I work in the auto parts ive seen alot of people under or over tighten the hub nut it does make a difference i would try using a bgs ( sorry thats what i know the brand has Carquest cares them) there a good brand of bearing.

 

Good brand of bearing, and a good torque wrench. Make sure the axle nut is torqued to the proper spec. Being too tight, OR too loose, will kill the bearings.