So about a few months ago, I changed all four wheel bearings. As you know, my car is completely gutted, no drivetrain/power train, so the car weighs nothing.
After replacing the wheel bearings, I put the suspension back together, threw the wheels on, and let the car sit on all four wheels (never rolled), WITHOUT axles in place.
Today, I change my wheels out for newer ones I bought a while back, and I noticed all the wheels had very slight play at 12 and 6 position...very very very slight, but it's there. No play at all in the 3 to 9 position that I could tell. The wheel/bearing rotates smoothly of course, no noise I hear and no hesitation/friction I can feel that would make me suspicious.
I've never noticed this before, but I have never tested any play before with wheels on, just only grabbing the hub itself without wheels or rotors.
Am I missing something here? Do the axles in place secure the whole assembly better, then I should test it?
Or did having no axles in the wheel bearings caused some kind of pressure and premature wear on the bearings?
I doubt my wheel bearings are bad, and like i said, i noticed no play immediately after installing the bearings and hub right after I pressed them in.
I'm thinking the weight of the wheels themselves is causing the very very minimal play i'm experiencing. I've replaced wheel bearings before without issues.
I'm guessing I shouldn't worry about it, and recheck once the axles and all are in place, but I'm just getting a little anxious about this..
Thanks!
Bryan
After replacing the wheel bearings, I put the suspension back together, threw the wheels on, and let the car sit on all four wheels (never rolled), WITHOUT axles in place.
Today, I change my wheels out for newer ones I bought a while back, and I noticed all the wheels had very slight play at 12 and 6 position...very very very slight, but it's there. No play at all in the 3 to 9 position that I could tell. The wheel/bearing rotates smoothly of course, no noise I hear and no hesitation/friction I can feel that would make me suspicious.
I've never noticed this before, but I have never tested any play before with wheels on, just only grabbing the hub itself without wheels or rotors.
Am I missing something here? Do the axles in place secure the whole assembly better, then I should test it?
Or did having no axles in the wheel bearings caused some kind of pressure and premature wear on the bearings?
I doubt my wheel bearings are bad, and like i said, i noticed no play immediately after installing the bearings and hub right after I pressed them in.
I'm thinking the weight of the wheels themselves is causing the very very minimal play i'm experiencing. I've replaced wheel bearings before without issues.
I'm guessing I shouldn't worry about it, and recheck once the axles and all are in place, but I'm just getting a little anxious about this..
Thanks!
Bryan