Front hub withdrawal mystery

Post by **Mick_Anik** » Mon Aug 17, 2009 3:05 pm

I'd never had a problem getting front hubs of a Moggie, until the last couple of times.

I've always been able to tap them off without excessive force, but the last two I did fell to bits on the way off. I've kept everything and still have spare hubs here.....I'm just curious how this occurred.

I will have to take the hubs off two Minors in the future, and don't want this to happen again.

Is there any special procedure involved? I've never had to use a puller. I can't see how all the balls could come out of the bearings! I can't get them back in.

Weird stuff!

Post by **bmcecosse** » Mon Aug 17, 2009 3:19 pm

The bearings must be very worn - throw them away! I too have never had to do any more than 'tug' a front hub, for it come off complete - no balls falling out.

Post by **Mick_Anik** » Mon Aug 17, 2009 3:33 pm

This is the mystery - there was no free play ie wheel rock, and no whooshing noise when I span the wheel (Is it spin, span, spun?).

Just an apparently-okay hub assembly. Probably better than the one I got an MOT with, by giving that one a bit of extra umph with the big hub nut spanner. Saving my quality spares, you see, for in Poland.

Post by **alainmoran** » Mon Aug 17, 2009 4:11 pm

The bearings only ever come apart for me when I'm tapping them out to check/replace them ... if they fell apart as you took them off then they may be worn.

Once you have checked the bearings/races for signs of wear you can put them back together again by coating the outer shell with a goodly layer of grease, put the cage in and then arrange the balls in position (actually you may need to put the cage in after the balls, I can never remember which it is, but it's obvious while you are doing it), then place the inner shell over the top and give it a gentle tap with a hammer.

Post by **bmcecosse** » Mon Aug 17, 2009 4:24 pm

Spun!

Post by **alainmoran** » Mon Aug 17, 2009 4:43 pm

To me the word span applies to the thing that is spinning, wheras the word spun applies to the act of spinning something.

Post by **bmcecosse** » Mon Aug 17, 2009 5:36 pm

Span = width!

Post by **aupickup** » Mon Aug 17, 2009 7:41 pm

in the building the span of the building is the width

Post by **Mick_Anik** » Mon Aug 17, 2009 7:45 pm

I've just been down to check - I kept everything...hub, spacer washers and cap, but not the actual bearings. Sorry for the minsinformation.
I was surprised to read from alainmoran that bearings can be re-assembled with a gentle tap. This is another area in which my knowledge is somewhat limited, as I've never bought a new bearing for a Morris, or indeed any other car I've had.
Just lucky perhaps.
But I know to give reassembly a go if it happens again, and thus learn more.
Thanks, all!

A google search revealed the three forms of the verb...spin, span, spun. 'Span' sounds really stupid to me, possibly because it's raely used. Who ever talks in the past tense about something revolving, apart from us? -"....when I span the wheel yesterday..."

Post by **Mogwai** » Mon Aug 17, 2009 8:37 pm

I've removed some without any effort & some have needed a puller to shift, its probably just the manufacturing tolerances of the stub axle & bearings at their opposite limits . It may depend on the bearing manufacturer but have had a few angular contact bearings separate like this on removal

Post by **alainmoran** » Tue Aug 18, 2009 1:36 am

bmcecosse wrote:Span = width!

Yes, however if you check the dictionary it is the older (ancient?) term for spun.

For instance 'the vehicle span out of control' is the commonest example.

Mick_Anik wrote:I was surprised to read from alainmoran that bearings can be re-assembled with a gentle tap. This is another area in which my knowledge is somewhat limited, as I've never bought a new bearing for a Morris, or indeed any other car I've had.

I'm not saying that this is nessecarily the right/safe thing to do, however I have done it in the past with no problems.

In a similar vein, it is perfectly possible to remove a bearing oil-seal and then put it back into the hub (if you havent damaged it) ... the trick to avoiding damaging them is to a) use a wide flat screwdriver wedged in under the oil seal and b) give it a SHARP thwack with the palm of your hand to flick the seal out ... if the seal doesnt come out on the first go ... move the screwdriver round a bit and try again.

Trying to get them out slowly only guarantees that you will stuff the seal.

Post by **jaekl** » Tue Aug 18, 2009 1:05 pm

Any possibility that the bearing(s) had been in the wrong way and that's why it fell apart? The open side of the outer races must face away from each other.
Of course the inner one can fall apart on removal, but the seal normally prevents it. Either the seal is shot or the inner race of the inner bearing was too tight and wouldn't move, so the balls popped.

Post by **bmcecosse** » Tue Aug 18, 2009 9:23 pm

The worrying thing would be - if the bearing could 'fall apart' while belting down the road - and the wheel comes off!

Post by **Mick_Anik** » Tue Aug 18, 2009 9:48 pm

Jaekl....on that point I don't know, but I remember reading about bearing fitment....the info stamped on it has to face a certain way, but I can't remember.
Your info about the open sides facing away from each other seems to cover that aspect of bearing fitment. Apparently, if you get it wrong, they wear out more quickly.