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bad front wheel races??

66gt350

66gt350

Active Member
The last couple of times I drove the fastback, the front end seemed loose. Over the past few years the front end is completely new --roller upper and lower control arms from Shaun, roller spring perch from Opentracker, TCP strut rods, new tie rods (the oldest part, but few miles). Before jacking up the passenger side of the car, I grabbed the top of the tire and shook it. There was movement. I jacked up the car and I could wiggle the tire back and forth, mainly top to bottom. While doing that, I grabbed the ball joints and didn't feel any movement. So, I figured it must be the wheel bearings. I adjusted them, like SSBC instruction says -- preload bearing to 25 ft/lbs, while spinning, back off 1/2 turn and tighten to 10 in/lb. I can still wiggle the tire. it looks like there's movement by the spindle nut and the hub. If I keep tightening the wheel bearing until there no movement, I'm probably about to 10-12 ft/lb of torque on the wheel bearing. The tire rotates freely. I looked at the bearings, and they look good and spin free. Does this babbling make sense or should I lay off the caffiene??

Is this an indication that the races on the front wheel bearings are worn?
 
Thanks Dave. I tightened them up last night so there was no wiggle, and the tires still rotated fine. On the trip into work, it seemed better. I was going to, but forgot, to feel the wheel bearing cap to see how hot it may have gotten.

thanks
 
I have never seen just a race wear on wheel bearings. The bearing has always been the item to wear out from my experience. I also have not used a torque value when installing. Tighten them to preload the bearing, back off and snug up to where there is no movement and the wheel/tire will spin about 1.5 to 2 turns with a hard spin. Never any problems on the 40+ cars I have owned over the years.
 
I've given this more thought and the only thing I can come up with is maybe the races weren't fully seated in the first place, but now they are.... But.... both sides? I suppose it's possible.
 
I can see both sides......because the same person used the same method of install and tightening.....therefore the same results.
 
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