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Front Hub Play

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71tr

71tr

Jedi Warrior
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I recently installed new front wheel bearings on my six and I'm having difficulty getting the slotted nuts wrenched down sufficiently to take out any side to side play. I recall reading on the forum a mention that the felt oil seals now being supplied may be too thick and in need of trimming. Anyone with similar experience or thoughts?
 
Are the seals installed with the felt facing towards the inside of the car so that the metal part of the seal is tapped into the hub?

I had to trim mine some; I cut about 1/3 of the felt away with a new sharp knife blade. Then cranked the hub down to fully compress the seal, and backed off the nut. Then turned the nut to get the proper bearing setting.
 
Double check that everything is assembled properly. If you have side to side play, you are not even close to fully tightened down.

The problem with the felt seal is that it is difficult to tell when there is sufficient pre-load on the bearings. Failure to adequately pre load the bearings will result in rapid failure.

The instruction manual all tell you to tighten the slotted nut until the wheel bearing starts becoming tight. Unfortunately it is almost impossible to tell if it is tight because the felt being compressed or the bearing being tightened. I put an indicator on the wheel hub when I assembled it and the difference is only a few hundredths of an inch between partially compressing the felt and actually applying a pre-load. certainly not where you will see side to side play.

I didn't have to trim the felt bit but make very sure that they are tightened enough.
 
Whose bearings are you using, whose seal?
I recommend you take the bearings and seal to a nearby bearing supply house and get modern equivalents. They will give you SKF bearings with more rollers, stronger to even the load, and CR or National rubber seals, that work they way they are supposed to without any trimming, cursing, or beer drinking(needed only, recreational usage anytime you want on a weekend).
 
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