Wheel bearing play. Yes or no?

[poorpeet]

There is a little play in the nearside front wheel bearing, just enough to detect, maybe 1mm of movement at the rim. The off side has no play. both are smooth & silent.
The thing is I have been told different things by different people. Some say there should be no play others that a little play is right for taper bearings. This last was backed up by a book on suspension. What do I do? I'm confused.

[that daddy]

if its minimal, 1mm isnt worth mentioning really,you may find that play disappears when the hub as warmed up after a good drive,dont worry.

Edited by that daddy on Saturday 10th February 12:22

[trackcar]

the confusion might be arrising because you dont have taper roller bearings in your hubs though .. they shouldnt have any play but a small amount (as said above) is of little concern.

[that daddy]

trackcar said:

the confusion might be arrising because you dont have taper roller bearings in your hubs though .. they shouldnt have any play but a small amount (as said above) is of little concern.

yes that is correct that is why there is no adjustment.

[spend]

I thought if you had play, first stop was to check the hub nut torque settings. But if you get access to big torque wrench, its probably as easy to remove & renew (wheelbearings & lock nuts are not too expensive).

Dave

[that daddy]

spend said:

I thought if you had play, first stop was to check the hub nut torque settings. But if you get access to big torque wrench, its probably as easy to remove & renew (wheelbearings & lock nuts are not too expensive).

Dave

if that nut is loose then it was not tight in the 1st place,i have never come across this happening on a sierra/granada front end ever during my time in the trade,in fact these bearings have a long service life usually.

[spend]

that daddy said:

.....in fact these bearings have a long service life usually.

I dont think they get quite as much abuse in Ford applications....

In recent history, they were a major failing in the factory exchange hub experiment? (the bearing seat was beyond salvage in @40% IIRC).

Dave