Installation And Maintenance Of Wheel Bearings

The main function of the hub bearing is to bear the load and provide precise guidance for the rotation of the hub. It bears both the axial load and the radial load and is a very important component.

The traditional automobile wheel bearing is composed of two sets of tapered roller bearings or ball bearings. The installation, oiling, sealing, and clearance adjustment of the bearings are all carried out on the automobile production line. This structure makes it difficult to assemble in an automobile production plant, with the high cost and poor reliability, and the bearings need to be cleaned, oiled, and adjusted when the automobile is maintained at the maintenance point.

The wheel hub bearing unit is developed on the basis of standard angular contact ball bearing and tapered roller bearing. It integrates two sets of bearings, which has good assembly performance, can omit clearance adjustment, lightweight, compact structure, and load capacity. The advantages of large, sealed bearings can be pre-loaded with grease, omission of external hub seals, and are maintenance-free.

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1 How to maintain wheel hub bearings?

1. Pay attention to the early warning signs of bearing wear: including any friction noise when turning or abnormal deceleration of the suspension combination wheel when turning.

2. In the process of storage, transportation, and installation of the hub bearing, to protect the bearing components, be sure to refer to the automobile manufacturer’s manual and select special tools for installation.

3. It is recommended to replace the bearings in pairs. If there is a problem on one side, for various considerations, the integrity of the other side is questioned, so replacing them together is also a preventive method.

4. In order to ensure a long service life of the bearing, carefully check the shaft and bearing seat before installation, but do not hit the bearing with a hard object.

5. For the hub bearing unit, do not attempt to disassemble the hub bearing or adjust the sealing ring of the hub unit, otherwise the sealing ring will be damaged and water or dust will enter. Even the raceways of the sealing ring and inner ring are damaged, resulting in permanent failure of the bearing.

6. When installing the hub bearing with the ABS magnetic thrust ring, point the side with the magnetic thrust ring inward, facing the sensitive element of the ABS. If you are not sure which side of the thrust ring is installed, you can use a small object close to the edge of the bearing, and the magnetic force generated by the bearing will attract it. Whether the installation is correct or not is related to the function of the braking system.

7. Ensure that the magnetic thrust ring in the sealing ring with the ABS device bearing will not be subjected to external force, including collision and impact of other magnetic fields. Keep away from magnetic fields when removing from the box before installation. When installing these bearings, change the operation of the bearings by observing the ABS alarm needle on the instrument panel through a road test.

8. Ensure that there is a sufficient amount of grease in the bearing. For some unsealed bearings, such as double row tapered roller bearings, grease lubrication must be added during installation, but sealed ones are not required. Due to the different sizes of the inner cavity of the bearing, it is impossible to determine how much grease to add. If there is too much grease, the excess will seep out when the bearing rotates. General experience: During installation, the total amount of grease should account for 50% of the bearing clearance.

9. When installing the lock nut, the torque varies greatly due to the difference in bearing type and bearing seat. Pay attention to the relevant instructions.

10. In order to ensure safety and reliability to the greatest extent, it is recommended that you always check the wheel hub bearings regardless of the age of the vehicle.

For rear-wheel-drive vehicles, it is recommended that the front wheel hub bearings should be lubricated when the vehicle travels to 38,000 kilometers. When replacing the brake system, check the bearings and replace the oil seal.

11. In addition, the bearing should be installed in a clean and tidy environment to prevent fine particles from entering the bearing and shorten the service life of the bearing.