Posted by Chris on Monday, May 21, 2001 at 9:38PM :
In Reply to: Re: Hub Nut Sockets posted by MoparNorm on Monday, May 21, 2001 at 6:39PM :
I had to do the same to my socket for use in a Dana 70F. I'd like to clarify what Norm said about the adjustment. Wheel bearings in these heavy rigs are critical if you want the bearings to last. There are a couple of schools of thought on bearing preload, there's the method Norm spoke of - tightening to a point of preload (usually in inch pounds of torque) then backing off a fraction of a turn. Given the variance in thread pitches and how worn things are this might not be entirely adequate (no offense Norm, just throwing in my $.02).
The second school of thought is that you tighten the adjustment nut until there is no free play (rock drum back and forth and feel for freeplay, you can hear the grease make a squashing noise sometimes if there is play). Here comes the judgement call, how much load does your truck's working weight apply to the bearings? A fellow mechanic said to me once "You can't 'burn' up a loose bearing" and that's true as long as it's not loose either. I have a W300 that weighs 6000 lbs, and I set my bearings up so there was almost zero freeplay *or* preload on the bearings. I can carry a big load without fear of burning up the bearings and upon inspection after several hundred miles there is no adverse wear and I started with new bearings.
The last and critical thing to consider is the locknut. Depending on how worn your locknut and spindle threads are, you may actually apply preload to your wheel bearings with the locknut despite a correct adjustment. You may have to compensate by setting a loose preload with the adjustment nut, then rechecking after tightening the locknut. When you get it right, then bend the lock tabs.
Hope this helps.
Chris
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