Road Wheel Wobble

[printjunky]

I was messing around underneath the Rover last night, and at one point I pulled myself up by a tire. And it moved. I tested it by pulling/pushing around the tire (while on the ground), and it wobbles in all directions. Not a ton. Maybe a quarter inch total travel. A little thunking. So I tested the other wheels. Both rears and driver's front do this. I had noticed a little squirreliness on corners this past week.

It may be notable that I had the half shafts out last week to replace the sort one. (though haven't been into the front end yet - hopefully not til spring).

This, I believe is usually a bearing issue. But, I did some searching and came up with little in the way of advice. Looked at the workshop manual, and it seems to indicate either a hub adjusting nut adjustment needed, or a bearing. Don't see what else it could be.

[SafeAirOne]

...either a hub adjusting nut adjustment needed, or a bearing.

Agreed, except "bearing" should be plural.

[LaneRover]

I would try tightening up the nut first.

[jac04]

Keep in mind that you will still get some 'wobble' and slight 'thunking' even if the bearings are adjusted properly. I have always done all my wheel bearings by the book with a dial indicator and you can grab onto a tire and feel the end play. Remember that the end play at the bearings is magnified greatly out at the outside diameter of the tire.

[TedW]

Keep in mind that you will still get some 'wobble' and slight 'thunking' even if the bearings are adjusted properly. I have always done all my wheel bearings by the book with a dial indicator and you can grab onto a tire and feel the end play. Remember that the end play at the bearings is magnified greatly out at the outside diameter of the tire.

Terri Ann has a wheel bearing adjustment technique she learned from a veteran LR mechanic - no dial gauge necessary.

IIRC, it goes like this:

1) Tighten race until it seats snug against the bearing.

2) Back race off 1.5 flats.

3) bend lock tabs and tighten lock nut

4) Enjoy malt beverage (well, I added that one).

[jac04]

^^Understood, and I'm aware of it. However, I've tried that method and it hasn't resulted in the end play as specified in the manual. A dial indicator & mag base can be purchased on line for a reasonable sum, and it is a great tool to have in your tool box.

[Terrys]

Terri Ann has a wheel bearing adjustment technique she learned from a veteran LR mechanic - no dial gauge necessary.

IIRC, it goes like this:

1) Tighten race until it seats snug against the bearing.

2) Back race off 1.5 flats.

3) bend lock tabs and tighten lock nut

4) Enjoy malt beverage (well, I added that one).

Not sure I'd buy into that method, except for very short trips. First off, you should be spinning the tire while tightening the inner nut. This goes double for freshly repacked bearings. Snug is a pretty relative term, relativity being what it is, I'm not going to bother to describe how I "feel" the wheel beginning to drag as I'm tightening the inner nut. I then back off One flat

[SafeAirOne]

I just use a a dial indicator. Takes 2 seconds.

[bpj911]

rocket science

The way it's done at my house is to:

open beer
set a bunch of additional beers on fender
think and look at wheel while you drink beer while you point heater at yourself
get another beer
open toobox and see if you can find things while you drink a beer

pack bearings with hands
smear grease all over beer can (s)
assemble everything on hub

(important part)
-tighten bearing as tight as you can while spinning wheel with greasy hands. put in cotter pin or locknut or whatever you are working on.
drink a beer and try to talk on your phone to your buddies with grease everywhere and tell them what a bad ass you are for being able to work on your own vehicle.

[TedW]

^^Understood, and I'm aware of it. However, I've tried that method and it hasn't resulted in the end play as specified in the manual. A dial indicator & mag base can be purchased on line for a reasonable sum, and it is a great tool to have in your tool box.

Where can one find the indicator of which you refer?

[slorocco]

You should be able to find one, good enoug for this job, at Harbor Freight on line.

[jac04]

Where can one find the indicator of which you refer?

Just Google "dial indicator" and click on 'shopping'. Lots of on-line tool suppliers as well as Amazon.

[TedW]

Just Google "dial indicator" and click on 'shopping'. Lots of on-line tool suppliers as well as Amazon.

How do you use it in this case? I read the GB but can't figure it out.

[jac04]

How do you use it in this case? I read the GB but can't figure it out.

Mount the indicator base to the hub with the indicator tip against the stub axle. You are measuring relative motion between the hub stub axle. IIRC, the SIII green bible has an illustration of the dial indicator set-up for measuring the wheel bearing end play.

[SafeAirOne]

Mount the indicator base to the hub with the indicator tip against the stub axle. You are measuring relative motion between the hub stub axle. IIRC, the SIII green bible has an illustration of the dial indicator set-up for measuring the wheel bearing end play.