How To Install And Maintain Hub Bearings?
Worn or damaged hub bearings or hub units can lead to inappropriate and costly failures along the way of your vehicle, or even harm to your safety. Please pay attention to the following items in the use and installation of hub bearings:
1. In order to maximize safety and reliability, it is recommended that you always check the hub bearings regardless of the age of the vehicle - pay attention to the early warning signs of bearing wear: including any friction noise during rotation or suspension combination wheels when turning Unusual deceleration.
For rear-wheel drive vehicles, it is recommended that the front hub bearings be lubricated when the vehicle has driven to 38,000 kilometers. When replacing the brake system, check the bearings and replace the oil seal.
2. If you hear the noise from the hub bearing, first of all, it is important to find the location where the noise occurs. There are lots of moving parts that could be generating noise, or some rotating parts making contact with non-rotating parts. If it is confirmed that the noise is in the bearings, the bearings may be damaged and need to be replaced.
3. Because the working conditions of the front wheel hub causing bearing failure on both sides are similar, even if only one bearing is broken, it is recommended to replace it in pairs.
4. Hub bearings are sensitive, and correct methods and tools must be used in any case. In the process of storage, transportation, and installation, the parts of the bearing must not be damaged. Some bearings require greater pressure to press in, so special tools are required. Be sure to refer to the car manufacturer's manual.
5. When installing the bearing, it should be in a clean and tidy environment. The entry of fine particles into the bearing will also shorten the service life of the bearing. It is very important to maintain a clean environment when replacing bearings. It is not allowed to hit the bearing with a hammer and be careful not to drop the bearing on the ground (or similar mishandling). The condition of the shaft and housing should also be checked before installation, as even minor wear can lead to poor fit and premature failure of the bearing.
6. For the hub bearing unit, do not attempt to disassemble the hub bearing or adjust the sealing ring of the hub unit, otherwise, the sealing ring will be damaged and water or dust will enter. Even the raceways of the sealing ring and the inner ring are damaged, resulting in permanent failure of the bearing.
7. There is a magnetic thrust ring inside the sealing ring of the bearing of the ABS device. This thrust ring cannot be bumped, impacted, or collided with other magnetic fields. Take them out of the box before installation and keep them away from magnetic fields such as motors or power tools used. When installing these bearings, change the operation of the bearings by observing the ABS alarm pin on the instrument panel through a road test.
8. For hub bearings equipped with ABS magnetic thrust rings, in order to determine which side the thrust rings are installed on, you can use a light and small object close to the edge of the bearing, and the magnetic force generated by the bearings will attract it. When installing, point the side with the magnetic thrust ring inwards, facing the sensitive components of the ABS. Note: Improper installation may result in the failure of the brake system.
9. Many bearings are sealed, and this type of bearing does not need to be lubricated during the entire service life. Other unsealed bearings such as double-row tapered roller bearings must be lubricated with grease during installation. Because the inner cavity of the bearing is different in size, it is difficult to determine how much grease to add. The most important thing is to ensure that there is grease in the bearing. If there is too much grease, the excess grease will leak out when the bearing rotates. General experience: When installing, the total amount of grease should account for 50% of the clearance of the bearing.
10. When installing the lock nut, due to the difference between the bearing type and the bearing housing, the torque varies greatly. Pay attention to the relevant instructions.
