Wheel bearing...EDITED...Not the wheel bearing???!!!!

[Iain C]

Hi all

My Disco has a grumble coming from somewhere and I think it's the NSR wheel bearing...I can fell movement at the top of the tyre even with the truck sat on the ground.

Problem is I have a week from hell followed by a trip from the Midlands to Weymouth, towing, on Friday, and I just won't have time to change the bearing properly, and as it does still drive, I'd rather not put it into an undriveable state.

Couple of questions...

Just as a temporary fix, will I get another 400 miles out of it just by nipping it up by feel to eliminate the free play?  I'll then change it when I get back.

If this is an option, and I don't want to drain the diff oil before starting, how much lean do I need to get on the vehicle or axle to stop it piddling all over the driveway?  Or am I wasting my time and is it better to just drain it?

What do I need to do it?  Just a hub bearing kit and a hub nut spanner?

Any other tips?

Thanks!!!

[chris9119]

Iain

You don't say where you are, but if your going from the Midlands, one can assume that your up here somewhere!!

You could try to tighten it up....., and it could cure it....., on the other hand, it may not........, driving 400 miles......, if it collapsed after 150......, you could be in deep pooh......

It would only take a couple of hours to do, so if your local to Walsall, then I don't mind giving you a hand at mine.

Have sent you a pm with my mobile number if required.

Chris

[Les Henson]

At the very least visually inspect the bearing and re-grease it if it doesn't look too bad. I would suggest you change it though, a collapsed wheel bearing not only strands you at the side of the road, but if it dries up, then the bearing race could friction weld itself to the stub axle.


Les.

[bilge rat]

mine went on me blue un, whist it was stood for a week. down to water contamination. got worse very quick .to be honest i wouldnt risk it . iff your on about nipping it up your half way there . id change it without  a doubt. cheers alan.......

[Iain C]

First, thanks for the replies, esp. Chris...however I'm in Rugby and my week from hell just won't give me the time to get to you.

So, I was soooo convinced it was the bearing I just ordered a kit and a hub spanner.  I've just quickly checked the vehicle, grabbed the tyre, and yes, you copuld feel some play.  So I jacked it up to see how bad, however on the jack (h/brake off) I realised that it was not too bad at all, in fact no worse than it was at MOT time in May which was not even an advisory (and it's not a daily car and I'm sorry to say has done no real off roading since!).  I think the play was just general 165000 mile Disco suspension slop.

So surely it cannot be a prop UJ?  Especially not a front, as I changed both ends about 3000 miles ago??  Guess what? Sloppy front prop UJ. Ok, so I have fitted a 2" lift, but surely they must last longer than that? :shock:

However the play is really weird.  There is no rotational play, the best way I can explain is that the play is in one plane only, and if I was to squeeze just two opposite bearing cups further in, that would solve the -problem.  Very wierd as the retaining circlips are in place, and the UJ is niceley greased. :?

I reckon there is about 1mm of movement...I've ordered a new UJ, but I doubt I'll have time to fix it properly before the weekend, however I am considering giving the cups a tap with a hammer to get them to go in further...any thoughts?????  This happened to anyone else?  Worn spider?  Out of tolerance part? :roll:

[Range Rover Blues]

The spider is located by a slightly dished plates in either bearing cup, so it's entirely possible that the needle rollersd are fine but that the thrust washer has failed, allowing the prop out of balance which will only make it worse.

Unfortunately tapping the bearing cups during assembly can damage this part, that's why I press them in with a G clamp.

[Iain C]

Cheers RRB...when I put it together I'm almost 100% sure I pushed them in using a workmate so in theory that should not have happened...

Just have to change it then I guess!

[Range Rover Blues]

Check all the bits are there when you strip it down, possibly one fo them was missing, you might not have noticed when the Uj was brand new and the bearings still tight, otherwise I don't know how else this could have happened short of loosing a circlip.