I repacked front hub bearings because tire shop tech said my hubs weren't tight. You definitely could feel a little slop/wiggle if you pushed on top of the wheel. He said it wasn't the ball joints because they weren't moving. ( I replaced those 80k ago with Moog ball joints)

So I repacked and retorqued the hubs using Haynes manual for guidance. 12 ft/lbs initially and then 20 ft/lbs while turning hub;back nut off a quarter turn and finger tighten and install locking cap and cotter key.

After doing this I still can feel slop/wiggle when I push on top of tire and I believe there should be none.

Suggestions or comments appreciated.

Thanks

 

Likely either one of two things - see if you can tighten the hub nut some more and back it off just slightly to get rid of the play - if the play is still there, it is likely time for some new races and bearings.

 

I tend to put just a bit of pre-load on the repackable bearings...... Just for such an occasion.

 

Those are newish. I replaced them sometime in the last 9 months(forgot to write it my shop records so I can't remember exactly when)

The races came installed in the new rotors I bought and I replaced the bearings at the same time.

 

Sorry for being so obtuse, but what does "a bit of preload" mean?

Thanks

 

Basically, the 1st thing I mentioned as a potential fix.

 

Pretty much. I tighten it down finger tight, spin hub, and continue tightening with my fingers, until I can't turn it any more. If there is no slop, I will turn it a bit more, just to get the 'lock' to line up with the hole for the cotter key.

 

My rule of thumb has always been to tighten the nut at least just enough that I can't easily remove it by hand and not have the hub in what feels like a bind. This has worked for me for years.

 

I tightened the hub down today up to about 40 ft/lbs and still had a little wiggle. I am thinking the bearings and race must need to be replaced. I guess I didn't get the new ones properly torqued when I replaced them earlier this year.

 

Yes, sounds like its time for new bearings and races. Is it like this on both wheels or just one side?