Before I replace the wheel bearings...

'79 308 GTS I just finished my first timing belt change. Went pretty smooth, but that AC unit, wow. Dropped all shims, had to realign, that was fun. Finished everything and was putting the wheel back on. Tightened the lug bolts, and for some reason decided to grab the wheel at the top and bottom, noticed movement. Obvious bearing problem. Took the wheel hub out and over to the bench. I would like to sincerly thank the last person that was in there. IT'S CALLED A RING NUT TOOL DUDE, GET ONE! OK, I feel much better know. The ring nut looked like it was taken out and put back in with a hammer and chisel. It only took a couple of light taps with a chisel to loosen the nut. Two questions, Does the inner bearing fit loose on the shaft, and could the loose ring nut be causing the movement?? OK, three questions, should the bearings fit tight against the bearing spacer? The bearings look new.

 

Here are pics of the ring nut.
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Clearance between inner bearing and shaft .006 .152mm

 

torque spec for Axle shaft to flanges is 80 Nm. Did it feel loose?

 

OUCH!!!!

That looks awful.

 

....or 4 whacks with a 4lb sledge and a cold chisel?....

 

It took a light tap with a claw hammer and chisel and it came loose.

 

If the bearings look good, no heat or galling, no visible wear, you can probably just put on a new ring nut properly tightened and let it eat.

 

Does the clearance sound about right for the inner bearing to shaft... .006 .152mm

 

If you are refering to the ring nut, it came loose easily with a tap from a hammer and chisel.

 

No, that would be much too loose, but the shaft is stepped-down so make sure that you are measuring the shaft in the right area as shown in this jpeg:
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Thanks Steve, I always appreciate your expertise. I will measure it again, I didn't know the shaft was tapered. Maybe a new nut is all I need.

 

Just found another result from this, the brake pads are worn unevenly. One pad is thicker at the top than the bottom, and the other pad is just the opposite. Too bad too, they only had 3k miles on them. This is the result of the disc being at an angle to the hub carrier. All because someone didn't have a ring nut tool.

For the want of a nail... the kingdom was lost.

 

Re-built mine a short while ago with new hub shafts coz one of them sheared off.
Torque it up as above to 80nm, believe me when you do that you will really know how tight it should be. Certainly shouldn't come off that easily. Also there should be a lock washer with lugs to lock it off once torqued up.

Steve

 

Hello from Germany,

the ring nut has to be torqued down with 220 Nm not 80.
80 Nm is the torque for the M10 bolts flange to axle drive shafts.

Best Regards

Martin

 

Thanks, yes I caught that.

 

Car repair...so easy, a caveman...wait, I think that already happened.

At least you caught it now; could have been much worse.