Lateral play in inner bearing (Front Hub)

[Simmo]

Good evening, I'm just in the process of overhauling, cleaning up and rebuilding the front suspension on the S4. Prior to dismantling the hubs there was no bearing play detectable. However now that I have separated the hub from the vertical link there is an amount of lateral (along the length of the axle) play between the inner & outer race, this being the inboard bearing closest to the vertical link. The outer one is fine. Is this normal? has anyone else experienced this and would you change it?

[Matt Elan]

Don't quite understand - the hub bearings need to to be testing in situ - i.e. with the hub on the axle, if there is no play then the assembly is fine.
However, if you've got it stripped down and are concerned then replace all the bearings as a matter of course; don't agonise over one possibly worn worn bearing. Cost? front hub bearing kit ?20; just change it.....

[rgh0]

The play along the axle of the front hub taper roller bearings is controlled by the adjustment nut on the end of the axle and must be specfically set within the tolerances specified. I dont understand how you can have axial play in one of the bearings and not the other as they are rigidly connected by the hub?

In any case if you are rebuilding the front suspension / hubs you should replace the bearings

cheers
Rohan

[AHM]

Simmo,

I would have no problem in keeping the existing bearings if it was just inspection and maintenance ie you have seen that they are ok. Others may change them anyway because of the effort involved.

If you haven't taken the inboard bearing off the shaft you will need to make sure that the dustshield/seal metal retainer is in the hub properly.

There should be nothing stopping you from tightening the nut until the bearings start to bind ? You don?t want them that tight. As they are taper roller bearings you need to have a small amount of play, how you set this depends on your method. There is one method described in the WSM

[bcmc33]

There should be nothing stopping you from tightening the nut until the bearings start to bind ? You don?t want them that tight. As they are taper roller bearings you need to have a small amount of play, how you set this depends on your method. There is one method described in the WSM

Good advice to follow the WSM - that's how I've always done it.

1. Torque the spindle nut to 5-6 lbs ft.
2. Back-off the nut one flat.
3. Insert new split pin.

Job done.

[Simmo]

Think I am being paranoid, car was MOT's & serviced by Lotus garage just before it went 'off the road' and they were all fine then with no play.

But thank you to those who replied.

[bcmc33]

Think I am being paranoid, car was MOT's & serviced by Lotus garage just before it went 'off the road' and they were all fine then with no play.

My MOT man says that taper bearing hubs with no play is a definite failure.

The WSM specifies 2-4 thou end float. Ignore that at your peril.

[RogerFrench]

Think I am being paranoid, car was MOT's & serviced by Lotus garage just before it went 'off the road' and they were all fine then with no play.

But thank you to those who replied.

Taper Roller bearings always have axial play when they're not assembled - most of them come apart, for heaven's sake, how could they not have play? Have you removed the seal on the inside of the hub? If and when you do, your bearing should come apart - you will have infinite play.