• The Roadster Factory Recovery Fund - Friends, as you may have heard, The Roadster Factory, a respected British Car Parts business in PA, suffered a total loss in a fire on Christmas Day. Read about it, discuss or ask questions >> HERE. The Triumph Register of America is sponsoring a fund raiser to help TRF get back on their feet. If you can help, vist >> their GoFundMe page.
  • Hey there Guest!
    If you enjoy BCF and find our forum a useful resource, if you appreciate not having ads pop up all over the place and you want to ensure we can stay online - Please consider supporting with an "optional" low-cost annual subscription.
    **Upgrade Now**
    (PS: Subscribers don't see this UGLY banner)
Tips
Tips

General TR Front Wheel Bearing Felt Seal Direction

KVH

Darth Vader
Silver
Country flag
Offline
The manual says the felt seal faces "inward," and the manual shows that to be toward the engine. That would mean I tap the seal in from the felt side which seems awkward. But the manual clearly shows the seal to be outside the hub housing and to face the engine, which I suppose is inward. Am I missing something?
 

TR3driver

Great Pumpkin - R.I.P
Offline
Yup, that's right. The felt side definitely goes towards the engine, as otherwise you would have the steel backing rubbing against the steel upright, which would be bad.

But you don't have to tap it into the hub if you find that difficult. The TR3 workshop manual gives an alternate approach, which seems to work fine: Just place the felt and retainer onto the stub axle, and install the hub over it. After, of course, setting the end float without the seal in place (as per the book).
 
OP
KVH

KVH

Darth Vader
Silver
Country flag
Offline
Yup, that's right. The felt side definitely goes towards the engine, as otherwise you would have the steel backing rubbing against the steel upright, which would be bad.

But you don't have to tap it into the hub if you find that difficult. The TR3 workshop manual gives an alternate approach, which seems to work fine: Just place the felt and retainer onto the stub axle, and install the hub over it. After, of course, setting the end float without the seal in place (as per the book).


Two quick follow up questions please: a) the Manual, in discussing hub installation and initial end float, says to tighten the hub initially to remove "slackness," then to mark the nut and spindle. I assume removing "slackness" means until the point of feeling at least some resistance?; and b) I still had to pound that felt seal into place; otherwise it wasn't pressing into its seat. Awkward drifting something in by using blunt force on squishy felt, but I suppose I could've used my hydraulic press. Was I doing something wrong?
 

TR3driver

Great Pumpkin - R.I.P
Offline
I believe the intent is to tighten just until all play is removed (but still no resistance to rotation). Then back off until the holes line up, which at least in theory should give the correct end play. (I don't have the number handy, something like .005")

I can't help with driving the seal in, I've always Installed new ones the way I outlined above. Used ones go in easier (and honestly I've rarely seen any reason to replace the felt).
 

TR3driver

Great Pumpkin - R.I.P
Offline
Finally got a chance to browse through the workshop manual ... it describes how to adjust the bearings in three different places, and all three are slightly different!

But anyway, I found the bearing clearance, which is given as .003" to .005", along with the note that it may be necessary to sand down the big flat washer to get the right clearance.

JMdXlvM.jpg


GGveMUY.jpg


pPRmo3J.jpg
 

DavidApp

Yoda
Country flag
Offline
I seem to remember there was some discussion about the fit of the steel part of the seal being too tight and also some the felt is too thick.

I damaged one seal attempting to get it in the hub. On the second one I think that I sanded the exterior of the steel shell so it pressed in easier.

David
 
OP
KVH

KVH

Darth Vader
Silver
Country flag
Offline
If I measure end float after installing the bearings, it wouldn't seem right to measure at the top of disc while rocking it in and out, correct? That would almost double the reading. To measure correctly, I suppose it would be necessary to push and pull the wheel straight in and out? I've tried both ways, and the difference is marked. I know--just get on with it and stop the worrying. But, nevertheless, I don't want excessive wheel play, and it doesn't seem all that easy to reach a comfort point. I'm inclined to believe the tighter spec, pulling/pushing the disc straight in and out.
 

TR3driver

Great Pumpkin - R.I.P
Offline
That's right, straight.
If you can, it would probably be better to mount the instrument to the vertical link, then rest the tip near the center of the hub. But most indicator stands won't reach that far.
 
OP
KVH

KVH

Darth Vader
Silver
Country flag
Offline
Yes, thanks. I played with it and wrestled with my dial gauge. I think I've got it really close. About a year ago I noticed that the front hub float on my other car was too sloppy, and I had to reset it. This procedure seems much better. Thanks for the help.
 
Similar threads
Thread starter Title Forum Replies Date
K TR2/3/3A Front wheel bearing felt seals too large? Triumph 9
K TR2/3/3A Front wheel bearing adjust and end float?? Triumph 10
A Front wheel bearing issues Austin Healey 11
TRclassic3 TR2/3/3A Front wheel bearing adjustment Triumph 5
J TR2/3/3A Outer Front Wheel Bearing Triumph 22
R Front wheel bearing - end float Austin Healey 40
K TR2/3/3A Front hub wheel bearing nut? Triumph 1
G TR4/4A Front Wheel Bearing Seal Triumph 19
charleyf TR2/3/3A Front wheel bearing--inner tr3 Triumph 4
S Problem removing front wheel bearing retaining nut Austin Healey 9
N Spitfire Front wheel bearing seal??? Triumph 11
K TR2/3/3A Front wheel bearing grease seal with felt packing? Triumph 4
7 General TR Chirping front wheel bearing Triumph 6
Morris Front wheel bearing installation Spridgets 4
TulsaFred Front wheel bearing grease packing Spridgets 26
mountainman TR2/3/3A TR3 Front Wheel Bearing Triumph 1
D MK2 front wheel bearing adjustment Jaguar 8
T TR6 TR6 front wheel bearing ? Triumph 5
tomshobby specific front wheel bearing questions Spridgets 8
tomshobby front wheel bearing question. Spridgets 9
T Bad front wheel bearing. Triumph 81
H Healey 100 Front Wheel Bearing replacement Austin Healey 4
B TR2/3/3A TR3A front wheel bearing question Triumph 5
T TR4/4A TR4 Front Wheel Bearing Triumph 8
10musketeer Front Wheel Bearing Shims Spridgets 10
D Front wheel bearing adjustment BJ8 Austin Healey 4
7 Putting the front wheel bearing back together. Triumph 0
T Front wheel bearing grease cup removal Austin Healey 1
J MGB Front Wheel Bearings. Re-grease or replace? MG 19
J TR2/3/3A Mystery knocking sounds at front wheel Triumph 11
AUSMHLY Front Wheel Spin Drag Austin Healey 6
CARSINC For Sale Sprite Front Wire Wheel Hubs Spridgets Classified 0
P 100/6 Front Wheel Alignment Austin Healey 10
Z 3000 Front Wheel Bearings Austin Healey 3
K TR2/3/3A Greasing the Front Wheel Hubs? Triumph 9
B Front Wheel Camber Setting Austin Healey 8
Rob Glasgow Front Wheel Bearingsknow Austin Healey 4
K TR2/3/3A Front wheel hub "felt" again? Triumph 2
KVH TR4/4A Front Wire Wheel Hubs Differ from Disc Hubs?? Triumph 5
AHS TR2/3/3A Residual brake pressure valve - how much front wheel drag? Triumph 18
Jim_Gruber New MOSS Tapered Front Wheel Bearings - WTH are the instructions Spridgets 16
N Front wheel bearings?? Spridgets 8
4tecdog BJ8 front wheel alignment Austin Healey 11
Jeepster Front wheel tracking-toe in Austin Healey 21
pan Front wheel bearings [BN1] Austin Healey 6
BN6_2197 Front Wheel Clearing of BN7 Austin Healey 35
M BN1 front wheel bearings Austin Healey 5
certifiedcarnut pipe between front brake wheel cylinders on 948 midget [drum brakes] Spridgets 4
C TR2/3/3A Front wheel bearings Triumph 8
T TR2/3/3A Front wheel bearings direction and torque Triumph 1

Similar threads

Top