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Stub axle and bearing fitting problem

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jjbunn

jjbunn

Jedi Knight
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Today I started on the task of fitting my new stub axle, new bearings, and replacing the hub, which will then allow me to fit my new "used" brake caliper (with fresh seals that I installed last weekend) and then get me on the road again.

However, I have hit a couple of snags and would welcome some advice.

1) I fitted the stub axle with the supplied nyloc nut and washer. I looked around for a torque setting, in the Bentley manual, and online, without success. I saw that a GT6 needed 65 lb/ft, so was going to use that, but then discovered that I couldn't fit my torque wrench into the available space behind the nut anyway! So I ended up tightening it "bloody hard" i.e. just short of giving myself a hernia. Good?

2) I then came to fitting the inner bearing seal. This is a ring of felt held in a thin metal ring with a lip. Does the felt face outwards or inwards? I suppose outwards.

3) Does the felt need greasing? I assumed so.

4) Now, the big problem. I can't get the inner bearing to slide onto the stub axle: it will go up the taper, to the shoulder, then I can't push it any further. I'm afraid to tap it on in case I get it off-true and foul the stub axle's surface. I checked whether I could slide the bearing onto the old stub axle, and found that I could get it on only if I went from the vertical arm end. I checked the diameter of both stub axles with a micrometer, at the place where the bearing sits, and they were both 1" to within a thou. I applied some 1500 grit emery cloth carefully around the stub axle, but still no go.

What am I doing wrong? I can see a solution: remove the stub axle, put the inner bearing and seal on it, re-insert the stub axle and tighten, but that can't be right, can it?

Thanks chaps :smile:

Julian
 
Julian,

The inner and outer races should be fit into the hub and then the inner bearing, the lip of the shield fits in outward and then the seal. Then it should slip onto the stub axle.

Did you by chance buy the uprated stub axle kit?

EDIT: Yes, the felt needs greasing.
 
Julian, can't offer you advice, since I haven't had problems assembling everything onto the stub axle, but I'm glad to see you're back on the horse!
Good luck!
 
Brosky said:
Julian,

The inner and outer races should be fit into the hub and then the inner bearing, the lip of the shield fits in outward and then the seal. Then it should slip onto the stub axle.

Did you by chance buy the uprated stub axle kit?

EDIT: Yes, the felt needs greasing.
Click to expand...

Hi Paul,

I have the races in the hub, the problem is the bearing wont fit over the stub axle: it doesn't quite seem to fit.

I bought the standard stub axle from Moss: its dimensions apear to be identical to the old one I took off the car.

Thanks,
Julian
 
Can you take a picture of the old and new bearing as well as how the bearing fits on the axle? I've got to go for tonight, but I'll be back in the AM.

There are no burrs on the shaft, by chance? You should not have to force these on the shaft.

If the bearing is the same, did you mic the shaft diameters to compare them as equals?
 
I had a problem with a new Stub Axle from one of the big three a year and a half ago. The outer bearing dia on the stub axle was a few thousandths too large. They refunded my money. I still have the "bad" stub axle as they did not want it back or seem to care there was a quality problem. I wound up using a spare stub I had with a new bearing and all fit as it should. You either have a bad stub axle or a bad bearing.. bad meaning not to spec. Good luck.
 
Julian, you can check online for the bearing spec's. Find the recommended shaft size and then mike yours. You might be able to find a machine shop nearby that can grind yours to spec. I do not recommend having it turned on a lathe.
 
just a suggestion, you could put the bearing in the oven and heat it up to maybe 275 degrees, I dont know the drop point of the grease, which is the temp it turns from solid to liquid but that might be enough to expand the bearing inner diameter so it will slide on the stubb axle and also you can put the stubb axle in the freezer( take it off the car first). however if it goes on and you have to take the bearing back off you would have to use a puller but destroy the bearing, did you try another bearing, the old one to see if it fit?
 
hondo402000 said:
just a suggestion, you could put the bearing in the oven and heat it up to maybe 275 degrees, I dont know the drop point of the grease, which is the temp it turns from solid to liquid but that might be enough to expand the bearing inner diameter so it will slide on the stubb axle and also you can put the stubb axle in the freezer( take it off the car first). however if it goes on and you have to take the bearing back off you would have to use a puller but destroy the bearing, did you try another bearing, the old one to see if it fit?
Click to expand...

I don't have the old bearing: it came off when my wheel detached, and is lost.

Rather than heating or freezing, I think I am just going to remove the stub axle, put the bearing on from the back, re-insert the stub axle, and secure. That seems the simplest way to me.
 
It it all sounds convoluted - have you used a strip crocous cloth and pulled it around the stub to polish it a little? Make sure that you oil the stub and bearing before installing it - sometimes a little lube helps (no comments!)
 
Julian-

Personally, after going through what you did I would not want to remove that stub axle again, ever. If you do go that route, make sure you put on a brand new nyloc nut and get it all tightened down properly. But I'd exhaust all means first, including Peter's suggestion.

Randy
 
Julian,

I'd return the stub axle and make sure you get one that is to spec. I had the exact same problem on my TR3. The 'Big 3' tech support guy was convinced that all I had to do was give the axle a little turn with emery paper -- I did as he suggested, and by the time the bearing actually would go on the axle, things were a mess. I'm convinced that there was a ridge on the axle, so the "sanding" I did to remove the ridge created too much play on the flat part of the axle that mates to the bearing.

Make them give you correct parts and then go from there. Good luck.
 
It is supposed to be a very snug fit ... have you tried using the hub to push the bearing on? I find that works even when finger pressure won't. A little grease or oil on the stub axle won't hurt either.

The felt goes towards the vertical link, not the bearing.

Note that lots of folks have found that new felt is thick enough to interfere with setting the bearing clearance. Somewhere, the factory recommended adjusting the clearance first, then marking the position of the nut, taking it all back apart, and then installing the seal. Done that way, the clearance is correct, and the new seal will quickly wear to fit.
 
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