New wheel bearings make noise right?

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Speedy88
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New wheel bearings make noise right?

Post by Speedy88 » 01 Oct 2012 03:13 pm

I need to know whether I'm being a bit thick but it's been a while since I've done wheel bearings.

Need to pass the MOT and the only thing it failed on really was front wheel bearing.

I've replaced the bearing but on rotation it still makes a noise. They're not meant to be completely silent are they? The noise is pretty quiet and is the "hiss" of a smooth bearing - I'd expect this to be normal. Am I correct?
'88 340 Williams (Sold)
'85 360 GLS - Drift project (Sold)
'77 Colt Sigma
'96 940 Drift project

Evoman
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Re: New wheel bearings make noise right?

Post by Evoman » 01 Oct 2012 03:38 pm

they are adjustable, you need to tighten them so theres no play them, then loosen them off slightly so there is a tiny tiny tiny bit of play. Bearings will make a noise but it shouldnt be too load, if you have adjusted it right and it not a rumbble then id be happy
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Chris_C
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Re: New wheel bearings make noise right?

Post by Chris_C » 01 Oct 2012 05:03 pm

Did you follow green book fitting procedure?
'89(G) 340 GLE B172k
'03 S60 D5 SE, '91 (J) MX5, 1954 Cyclemaster
Ex:
'89(F) 340 GL F7R (ex B172k) - Fake -> SBKV 300 Runner Up 08, 12; '91(H) 340 GL B14.4E - Kar; '88(F) 360 GLT B200E - Jet -> BKV 300 Runner Up 09; '89(G) 360 GLT B200E - Beast

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Speedy88
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Re: New wheel bearings make noise right?

Post by Speedy88 » 01 Oct 2012 05:49 pm

No, haynes. I'm just asking whether bearings make a slight hissing when they're normal. I don't really want to go back to my retest and fail again. I think you've got it evoman - I can't hear the hissing over cars passing in the next street. Should be fine...
'88 340 Williams (Sold)
'85 360 GLS - Drift project (Sold)
'77 Colt Sigma
'96 940 Drift project

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mac
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Re: New wheel bearings make noise right?

Post by mac » 01 Oct 2012 09:15 pm

New bearings will not be totally silent but should not make more than a slight "swish" or " hiss"..

300 series front wheel bearings do not last overlong - they are an rare example of Volvo
under engineering (carry over from Daf77).
When changing front wheel bearings always fit matched bearings and tracks as supplied.
When spun, new bearings, before greasing, will whistle surprisingly loudly but when greased,
correctly fitted, and correctly adjusted will be almost silent.
Pack bearings well with suitable grease (not from an old tin that has been lying around open
for years).
Do NOT overpack the hub space ( between bearings) no more than 1/3 full
Always fit bearings as sets (inner and outer)' always fit a new seal.
When assembled spin wheel whilst tightening nut by hand to ensure bearings are seated.
Spin wheel whilst torquing nut to 52Nm. Back nut off by 90 deg. Stake nut and fit cap.

Job done.

I have known people to assume new bearings are pre-lubricated (they will be lightly oiled)
and not pack them with grease :lol: :lol: :lol:

Mac
88 5door Redline 1.7 52k - 19 XC60 Momentum Pro D4 AWD 17k
1950 pair of legs that don't work very well.

Ride_on
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Re: New wheel bearings make noise right?

Post by Ride_on » 02 Oct 2012 12:37 am

That is all assuming there are no brakes attached, which may touch a little. Otherwise I'd agree they should be silent.

My tip is to use rally spec grease (Castrol BNS), and of course an accurate torque wrench is needed, otherwise gauge by hand. There is only about 20degrees between too tight and too loose.

You only usually need to replace the outer bearing, and IMO you can get away with just replacing the bearing if the track is not too bad, but its only temporary.

At least they are cheap, I have to replace the hubs on the 940 at £60 each (aftermarket price), they are not adjustable and create weird symptoms that are not directly attributable to the bearings nor are testable. Don't seem to last much more than 150K miles. Added to that you need one hell of a torque to tighten it 100Nm+45 deg. The 300 is a good design!
1980 345 DL_______1987 360 GLE (project car restored to GLT spec and B230FT'd)
1984 360 GLT______1987 360 GLT
1983 360 GLS______1989 360 GLE
1985 340 GL_______1986 340 1.4
1985 360 GLS______1995 940 SE 2.3 Turbo Estate (daily)
1987 340 GL 1.7

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Chris_C
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Re: New wheel bearings make noise right?

Post by Chris_C » 02 Oct 2012 09:22 am

Ride_on wrote:You only usually need to replace the outer bearing, and IMO you can get away with just replacing the bearing if the track is not too bad, but its only temporary.
That is just asking for trouble Ride_on. It's no more work to change 2 than it is 1 once you have the hub off and changing the bearing but not the track is a sure fire way of damaging the new bearing rendering both useless.

When I was running silly wheels on Fake I'd be lucky to see 12-20,000 miles off the front wheel bearings, they are as Mac says only just spec'd for the job. But, they are so easy to change why bother bodging it?
'89(G) 340 GLE B172k
'03 S60 D5 SE, '91 (J) MX5, 1954 Cyclemaster
Ex:
'89(F) 340 GL F7R (ex B172k) - Fake -> SBKV 300 Runner Up 08, 12; '91(H) 340 GL B14.4E - Kar; '88(F) 360 GLT B200E - Jet -> BKV 300 Runner Up 09; '89(G) 360 GLT B200E - Beast

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Speedy88
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Re: New wheel bearings make noise right?

Post by Speedy88 » 02 Oct 2012 11:45 am

Not to mention it was actually the inner bearing on mine that was fubar :wink:

All sorted now, ta for the assistance.
'88 340 Williams (Sold)
'85 360 GLS - Drift project (Sold)
'77 Colt Sigma
'96 940 Drift project

Ride_on
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Re: New wheel bearings make noise right?

Post by Ride_on » 03 Oct 2012 12:23 am

The point is you don't need to take the hub off to replace the outer bearing without the track. I have done this several times (not on the same car) and used a used bearing. Its a 5min job. I'd rather do that than run the car for a few more days risking siezing. I only changed it properly later out of diligence.

Yes of course if you use wheel with the wrong offsets its going to wreck them. I have only ever used wheels of the correct offset.

If you are going to re-engineer the car you have to take responsibility for its unusual maintenance. Obviously its better to change both bearings and tracks, but its 10x the work and sometimes you just need the car and don't have a garage.
1980 345 DL_______1987 360 GLE (project car restored to GLT spec and B230FT'd)
1984 360 GLT______1987 360 GLT
1983 360 GLS______1989 360 GLE
1985 340 GL_______1986 340 1.4
1985 360 GLS______1995 940 SE 2.3 Turbo Estate (daily)
1987 340 GL 1.7

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Chris_C
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Re: New wheel bearings make noise right?

Post by Chris_C » 03 Oct 2012 10:35 am

Fair point, hadn't thought about not needing to remove the hub. I'm just really keen people reading this don't think that's fair practice on a 300 and the jobs done ;)

Agree about the bearings being my fault entirely too
'89(G) 340 GLE B172k
'03 S60 D5 SE, '91 (J) MX5, 1954 Cyclemaster
Ex:
'89(F) 340 GL F7R (ex B172k) - Fake -> SBKV 300 Runner Up 08, 12; '91(H) 340 GL B14.4E - Kar; '88(F) 360 GLT B200E - Jet -> BKV 300 Runner Up 09; '89(G) 360 GLT B200E - Beast

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