Enzo wheel Bearings | FerrariChat

Enzo wheel Bearings

Discussion in 'Technical Q&A' started by Napolis, Jun 29, 2010.

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

  1. Napolis

    Napolis Three Time F1 World Champ
    Honorary Owner

    Oct 23, 2002
    32,118
    Full Name:
    Jim Glickenhaus
    Anyone have experience with real wheel bearings going bad?
     
  2. brian.s

    brian.s F1 Rookie
    Professional Ferrari Technician

    Nov 3, 2003
    3,809
    Midwest
    Full Name:
    Brian
    critical to set the pre load right on those, otherwise they will run out of true and get noisey.
     
  3. Napolis

    Napolis Three Time F1 World Champ
    Honorary Owner

    Oct 23, 2002
    32,118
    Full Name:
    Jim Glickenhaus
    The ones in P 4/5 are starting to get noisy. I don't think they were touched by us and that that's how they came from Ferrari.

    How do you put pre load?

    Once they start making noise is that it?

    Do they have to be replaced?

    They seem to come as one unit including hub.
     
  4. junglistluder

    junglistluder F1 Rookie
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    Mar 23, 2007
    3,617
    VA
    Full Name:
    Brendan
    If it's like the 355, then the bearings are not sold seperate. You either have to replace the whole hub or have an independent rebuild your current hub with new bearings.
     
  5. Napolis

    Napolis Three Time F1 World Champ
    Honorary Owner

    Oct 23, 2002
    32,118
    Full Name:
    Jim Glickenhaus
    Does the hub/bearing assembly come pre loaded or is this something you have to do?

    Ours are becoming noisy at around 8K miles. (rear) They were driven hard but that seems to early to me.
     
  6. MiuraP400

    MiuraP400 Formula Junior

    Feb 3, 2008
    951
    Arizona
    Full Name:
    Jim
    Very rare these days. If you are worried about one I would jack the car up and spin the wheel by hand. If there is any roughness felt when you turn it the bearing is going out. I would also grab the top and bottom of the wheel, pushin the top of wheel in and out. If there is any slop you could have a bad bearing or it could be out of adjustment (pinch load). While you are pushing / pulling on the top of the wheel I would also turn it to feel for roughness. If it is smooth and tight it is unlikely there is anything wrong with the bearing. If you are still concerned about the bearing after these checks, nothing beats taking a look at the bearing.

    If the bearings are going out they are toast and need to be replaced. Reworking bearings can be done but it is very unlikely that it would be cheaper then getting a new bearing.

    Cheers Jim
     
  7. Napolis

    Napolis Three Time F1 World Champ
    Honorary Owner

    Oct 23, 2002
    32,118
    Full Name:
    Jim Glickenhaus
    Everything is tight and smooth but there is definitely noise that wasn't there before and louder side is running warmer than quieter side and fronts which are quiet and cool.
     
  8. junglistluder

    junglistluder F1 Rookie
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    Mar 23, 2007
    3,617
    VA
    Full Name:
    Brendan
    #8 junglistluder, Jun 29, 2010
    Last edited: Jun 29, 2010
    I recently had a noise in my driver-side rear wheel. It would make a metallic rubbing sound when the wheel would spin (pitch would change with wheel rpm). Loud enough for me to hear it over the engine. It only made the noise under load and when the car was warm. No noise if the car was cold or off the ground. I thought it was either the wheel bearing or parking brake shoes. It was neither. Turned out to be just a loose center hub nut. Replaced with a new $13 nut and it is quiet as can be. Never thought it would be something so simple. I agree, 8k miles is much to early for a bearing failure.

    If it is running warmer than the other wheels, I would say check the parking brake shoes by removing the caliper and disc.
     
  9. MiuraP400

    MiuraP400 Formula Junior

    Feb 3, 2008
    951
    Arizona
    Full Name:
    Jim
    I agree with junglistluder. I had a similar experience with a noise and it turned out to be a broken differential mount. At the time I was sure it was a wheel bearing. I would look around some more. Can you duplicate the noise in the shop?

    Cheers Jim

    Cheers Jim
     
  10. staatsof

    staatsof Nine Time F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Mar 13, 2005
    95,953
    Fuggetaboutitland
    Full Name:
    Bob
    Those are very expensive too.
     
  11. finnerty

    finnerty F1 World Champ

    May 18, 2004
    10,406
    #11 finnerty, Jun 29, 2010
    Last edited: Jun 29, 2010
    There are (3) main things that cause premature (early) bearing failure ---

    1) Insufficient lubricant / contaminated (or improper) lubricant
    2) Improper preload --- set too low
    3) Improper preload --- set too high

    "Noise" can also be the result of the bearings having too much preload, not just too little (aka, loose).

    If wheel bearings are set with the wrong preload, their service life can be shortened drastically. I recommend checking the preload on your bearings --- it's easy to do, but you will need a specification from some source (Ferrari, service notes, etc.) in order to verify if yours are set properly.

    If you can't find a spec anywhere, you can do a comparison --- provided you have access to another Enzo ;)
     
  12. 2NA

    2NA F1 World Champ
    Consultant Owner Professional Ferrari Technician

    Dec 29, 2006
    18,221
    Twin Cities
    Full Name:
    Tim Keseluk
    The only way to be sure is to open it up and look at it.
     
  13. finnerty

    finnerty F1 World Champ

    May 18, 2004
    10,406
    #13 finnerty, Jun 30, 2010
    Last edited: Jun 30, 2010
    It goes without saying (so I'll say it, anyway :p) that if you already suspect your bearings may be worn out, you should disassemble the works, and inspect them. Continued use on worn bearings will do nasty things --- like damage axles and hub carriers :(
     
  14. ernie

    ernie Two Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Nov 19, 2001
    22,614
    The Brickyard
    Full Name:
    The Bad Guy
    #14 ernie, Jun 30, 2010
    Last edited: Jun 30, 2010
    Hey Jimmy.

    Not an Enzo but you can read about my experience changing the front bearings on my 348.
    http://ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=241309

    As you know Ferrari doesn't make the bearings for the car. I'm sure you can source a replacement bearing for it. Just know that if you order it from over seas US Customs is a PAIN IN THE ASS! They held up my bearings because they wanted all sorts of stupid stuff, bearing type, manufacture of the bearing, factory address, bearing specs, what type it was, etcetera. It really pissed me off, because when I asked "why" I was told it was to prevent dumping. DUMPING???? For 2 stupid bearings, yet just about everything in WalMart is made in China?! It's a sore point with me.

    Anyway, know that they are gonna give you grief if you have them imported.

    I would just pull the bearings you have, and the talk to the guys at Applied Industrial and have them get you what you need. http://www.appliedindustrial.com/ I have had some pretty good luck with them in the past. When I did the rear bearings on my 348 I got them from Applied.

    Hope that helps?
     
  15. ernie

    ernie Two Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Nov 19, 2001
    22,614
    The Brickyard
    Full Name:
    The Bad Guy
    #15 ernie, Jun 30, 2010
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    Again not an Enzo.

    When I did the rear bearings on my 348 they don't get preloaded. I just pressed them into the hub and then made sure that the ring nut that held it on was on gorilla tight. (My ring nut was not tight which cause the problem in the first place).

    Looking at the diagram it appears as though the bearing (#3) is held to the hub via the bolts. So I'm GUESSING no preload either???? But if you also look at the diagram the axle connecting flange (#4) is being connecting it to the CV joint via bolt #5. SO I would guess that maybe you have a loose bolt problem, which is then placing pressure on the bearing making noise???

    On the rear bearing on my 348, because of the loose ring nut, which didn't hold the bearing tight enough to the axle connecting flange, caused the flange to get cockeyed inside the inner race of the bearing. As a result the bearing got over heated from uneven pressure and the flange was ruined. So I had to get a new bearing and a used flange. No way was I gonna pay $1500 for a new flange, and the price for the parts on your ride is more than double that!

    Anyway I think you may have something similar happening with the rear bearing on your car but with bolts #5 not being up to the task???
    Image Unavailable, Please Login
     
  16. JCR

    JCR F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Mar 14, 2005
    10,913
    H-Town, Tejas
    This is all true. If, from the USA ordering bearings from overseas, have them list the contents as something different. Doesn't Hill Engr. (?) from the U.K. do this? If not isn't is the big Ferrari spares dealer from there?
     
  17. ernie

    ernie Two Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Nov 19, 2001
    22,614
    The Brickyard
    Full Name:
    The Bad Guy
    Won't work.

    When I FINALLY got my bearings the box had Customs stickers on it indicating that it had been X-Rayed. So they already know what you have in there, but still want you to jump through the hoops.

    Like I said, a pain in the ass.
     
  18. Napolis

    Napolis Three Time F1 World Champ
    Honorary Owner

    Oct 23, 2002
    32,118
    Full Name:
    Jim Glickenhaus
    Thanks for all the info. Will advise as to what we find.
     
  19. brian.s

    brian.s F1 Rookie
    Professional Ferrari Technician

    Nov 3, 2003
    3,809
    Midwest
    Full Name:
    Brian
    These are similar but NOT the same as used on 348/355 cars. This type of narrow multi ball bearing is/was used extensively in F1. they had a very limited life because of the sideloading. I have been able to disassemble and repack them on a couple of cars for owners not wanting to spend the $$ for new on past restoration projects. I am not sure of the life expectency but certainly not going to be tens of thousands of miles.
     
  20. Fresno Bob

    Fresno Bob Rookie

    Oct 7, 2007
    18
    Edmonds, WA
    I'm sure this was checked when your car was designed, but incorrect wheel offset can certainly cause premature wheel bearing failure.
     
  21. Napolis

    Napolis Three Time F1 World Champ
    Honorary Owner

    Oct 23, 2002
    32,118
    Full Name:
    Jim Glickenhaus
    Will look into that as well but I think we have correct offset. We do have bigger wheels and tires and have run the car at VMAX on Banking and on the Track including many hours at very high temp at Bahrain F1 and it was very sandy there.
     
  22. Napolis

    Napolis Three Time F1 World Champ
    Honorary Owner

    Oct 23, 2002
    32,118
    Full Name:
    Jim Glickenhaus
    Not parking brake.

    We're checking out the rest.

    Thanks for all input it's been very helpful.
     
  23. finnerty

    finnerty F1 World Champ

    May 18, 2004
    10,406
    When component #4 (wheel hub) is bolted to the CV joint, the bearing (contained within assembly #3) is sandwiched and compressed between the two --- this sets the preload on the bearing. The amount of the preload is determined by the torque specification on the bolts (items #5).
     
  24. Napolis

    Napolis Three Time F1 World Champ
    Honorary Owner

    Oct 23, 2002
    32,118
    Full Name:
    Jim Glickenhaus
    Thanks.
     
  25. finnerty

    finnerty F1 World Champ

    May 18, 2004
    10,406
    That in itself will increase the loads on the bearings, and could lead to outright damage (if they are not able to handle the higher loading). At the very least, bearing life will be shortened.
     

Share This Page