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AMC Eagle Den Forum

The Shop => Suspension, Steering, Brakes, Wheels & Tires => Topic started by: Eagle Kammback on February 18, 2011, 09:00:57 PM

Title: Hub Bearing Spacer - Eat the Bearing?
Post by: Eagle Kammback on February 18, 2011, 09:00:57 PM
I'm $250 in the hole because my bearing went bad, or so I think.
a spacer was forgotten when it was installed, the machine shop said that ate up the bearing.
however, my mechanic, who is the only one willing to work on my car in the county, doesn't believe forgetting an 1/8th inch spacer will do that.

SOmebody help me,
Title: Re: Hub Bearing Spacer - Eat the Bearing?
Post by: rollguy on February 18, 2011, 09:14:00 PM
Sorry, but I agree with the machine shop.    1/8 inch is quite a bit of tolerance for the bearing.  Without the spacer, the side load on the bearing would destroy it in short order.  Without the spacer, the axle nut would squeeze the inner bearing race too tight in relation to the outer.  Sorry to hear about this problem.  It is a good thing we learn by our mistakes, but sometimes it is costly.
Title: Re: Hub Bearing Spacer - Eat the Bearing?
Post by: thereverendbill on February 18, 2011, 09:31:27 PM
If your mechanic admits to forgeting the spacer. What are they doing to fix the problem to continue to get you business?
Title: Re: Hub Bearing Spacer - Eat the Bearing?
Post by: doneagle on February 19, 2011, 08:45:23 AM
HI  It sounds like your mechanic should pay for this .........Don
Title: Re: Hub Bearing Spacer - Eat the Bearing?
Post by: IowaEagle on February 19, 2011, 08:56:31 AM
Sounds like your mechanic should learn from this mistake.
Title: Re: Hub Bearing Spacer - Eat the Bearing?
Post by: Eagleearl on February 19, 2011, 12:15:54 PM
The hub was designed with a few thousandths of clearance. If you leave out the 1/8" spacer the hub will never tighten up. The bearings were pressed on so it felt tight when it was put together but there was nothing to hold it tight so when the weight of the car and some driving forces were put on it, it got loose and chewed itself up quickly. Your mechanic is wrong. The spacer should have been pressed on too so whoever pressed it together is to blame.
Title: Re: Hub Bearing Spacer - Eat the Bearing?
Post by: EaglePilot on February 19, 2011, 01:27:58 PM
Quote from: IowaEagle on February 19, 2011, 08:56:31 AM
Sounds like your mechanic should learn from this mistake.

.....................and pay for it too!
Title: Re: Hub Bearing Spacer - Eat the Bearing?
Post by: DGeagle on February 19, 2011, 08:14:18 PM
I had the exact same problem on my 86 with a bearing be left out.  Luckily, the whole hub was good in one of the parts cars and I grabbed it from there.  Myself and a mechanic have the dimensions to make a spacer if need be, because we thought that was our only option at the time, until we found the spare.
Title: Re: Hub Bearing Spacer - Eat the Bearing?
Post by: Eagle Kammback on February 20, 2011, 01:22:15 AM
Awe crap. I was hoping he was right.
Though wouldn't that mean the wheel would have shaken when they first mounted it back on?
Would they have noticed there was more thread sticking out on the axle itself?

I'm in quite a predicament now
I should probably have a 3rd, unbiased mechanic confirm this stuff for me
Title: Re: Hub Bearing Spacer - Eat the Bearing?
Post by: rollguy on February 20, 2011, 03:16:23 PM
Quote from: Eagle Kammback on February 20, 2011, 01:22:15 AM

I should probably have a 3rd, unbiased mechanic confirm this stuff for me
Is there such a thing out there?
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