Defender Front Wheel Bearing

[DeanoH]

Pulled the front hubs off today and this is the front RHS outer wheel bearing.



An absolute mirror finish on the inner half of the cup and a matching wear pattern on the race.

Why is it so ? and should I replace it ?

The wheel bearing was loose but not excessively so, the outer lock nut was very loose, wouldn't even call it hand tight. The only thing that held it on was the tab washer. Very thankful it wasn't the LHS.

Deano

[Reads90]

Well as you have it apart then replace them

But if you want to put them back on and tighten them, then get your self ready to change them soon, and keep an eye on them.

[Blknight.aus]

Pulled the front hubs off today and this is the front RHS outer wheel bearing.



An absolute mirror finish on the inner half of the cup and a matching wear pattern on the race.

Why is it so ? and should I replace it ?

The wheel bearing was loose but not excessively so, the outer lock nut was very loose, wouldn't even call it hand tight. The only thing that held it on was the tab washer. Very thankful it wasn't the LHS.

Deano

mis matched bearing and cup angles will usually cause this.

yes replace it

[DeanoH]

mis matched bearing and cup angles will usually cause this.

yes replace it

Thanks Dave

Just a thought. The inner and outer bearings are the same (unlike most vehicles). Usually you don't have to worry about keeping the inner and outer races separate as they're different sizes. 'What if', the inner and outer races were inadvertantly swapped at a previous bearing grease ?
Might be the answer ? or is this wear pattern common with a loose bearing, though I've never seen one like this before.


Deano

[nedflanders]

As Taper roller bearings are adjustable unlike cars that have roller bearings that are just torqued up then I wouldn't have thought it mattered if they had been swapped, I think poor adjustment is more the problem.

Its a real shame Land Rover decided to go from an adjuster nut and locknut set up to shims, makes it a real pain in the arse getting the right shims now.

[rick130]

[snip]

Its a real shame Land Rover decided to go from an adjuster nut and locknut set up to shims, makes it a real pain in the arse getting the right shims now.

I'm guessing it's easy enough to convert TD5's on to the old, easy to adjust setup. (unless there isn't a shoulder for the outer cone to seat against now ?)

[Blknight.aus]

As Taper roller bearings are adjustable unlike cars that have roller bearings that are just torqued up then I wouldn't have thought it mattered if they had been swapped, I think poor adjustment is more the problem.

Its a real shame Land Rover decided to go from an adjuster nut and locknut set up to shims, makes it a real pain in the arse getting the right shims now.

swapping them inside the hub doesnt matter so long as you swap the shells over at the same time (if you ever watch me servicing hubs I do them one at a time and ziptie the hub seal to the inner bearing so you can not mistake them)

swapping bearings in races is always a bad plan once the bearings have been used.


If they were that far out of adjustment that the bearings were running where indicated youd have eaten the brakes, fretted or snapped the axle at the splines, swarfed the bearing and had the worst wheel wobble you could imagine.

[Graeme]

I'd be suspecting a damaged roller and would definitely replace both bearings due to expected grease contamination.

[DeanoH]

Thanks all. I'm giving both bearings (inner and outer) the flick. The other wheels (so far) have been fine.

I've serviced/replaced a lot of wheel bearings but never seen a cup this 'shiny' before.

Deano

[wrinklearthur]

Thanks all. I'm giving both bearings (inner and outer) the flick. The other wheels (so far) have been fine.

One out all out, fit with new seals and while you are at it make sure the breather bolt hasn't corroded inside it self .

Keep the good ones as spares and do as Dave said by zip tying the cup and it's matching cone together.

With the new bearings then serviced with fresh grease and a adjustment after fitting new hub seals, done every time you change the brake pads, how long would you expect them to last?

My guess is about 200,000 kilometres.