Stub shaft play
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Lead Driver
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 5,135
Likes: 46
From: Columbus, Oh
Stub shaft play
When I got my tires I checked for ball joint slop and found a slight play in the hub. Pulled the auto hubs and tire (driver side) and found the bearing retaining nut hand loose. There's also a good amount of play in the outer stub shaft. You can pry down with little force against the inner part of the hub against the outer stub shaft. I just did bearings and pressed the cups with a bearing setting tool. They're packed nicely with grease. What else would cause play in this besides bad bearings? Thanks for any input guys.
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 17,799
Likes: 104
From: Ashland City, TN
You probably didn't torque properly on initial set of the hubs.
They should just move very very very slightly.
If you switched to the manual lock outs and did not change the spindle nuts to the manual setup, that could also be your issue.
but running the bearings too loose can cause pre-mature wear and damage.
So... if thats the case.
Back into the garage to clean them and inspect, re-grease and re-assemble if they are good.
Look up the torque specs and torque to spec.
When I assemble hubs and bearings, I snug down and physically rotate the hub to make sure i'm not getting a bad torque reading with grease in the way.
If you tightened them up and the grease didn't move and then you spun the hub you'd notice they would be loose.
Thats why the torque number sounds really stupid then you are supposeed to back off a 1/4 turn.
But as soon as you lock down that second nut and the lock washer, you'll pushh it to the other sides of the threads giving you just enough play in the bearings.
You want bearings to have just a slight amount of play, but not be sloppy.
To tight creates excessive heat.
it's a pain to learn how to get it right. cost me 400 dollars and 2 screw ups.
They should just move very very very slightly.
If you switched to the manual lock outs and did not change the spindle nuts to the manual setup, that could also be your issue.
but running the bearings too loose can cause pre-mature wear and damage.
So... if thats the case.
Back into the garage to clean them and inspect, re-grease and re-assemble if they are good.
Look up the torque specs and torque to spec.
When I assemble hubs and bearings, I snug down and physically rotate the hub to make sure i'm not getting a bad torque reading with grease in the way.
If you tightened them up and the grease didn't move and then you spun the hub you'd notice they would be loose.
Thats why the torque number sounds really stupid then you are supposeed to back off a 1/4 turn.
But as soon as you lock down that second nut and the lock washer, you'll pushh it to the other sides of the threads giving you just enough play in the bearings.
You want bearings to have just a slight amount of play, but not be sloppy.
To tight creates excessive heat.
it's a pain to learn how to get it right. cost me 400 dollars and 2 screw ups.
Thread Starter
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Lead Driver
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 5,135
Likes: 46
From: Columbus, Oh
I didn't switch to manuals. Used the autos that Gabe sent me. Locking nut? I didn't get into the spindles. Removed the auto hubs, brake caliper, and bearing retaining nut and off comes the hub assembly. Punched out the old bearing cups, pressed in the new, greased new bearings and reinstalled.
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 17,799
Likes: 104
From: Ashland City, TN
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Lead Driver
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 5,135
Likes: 46
From: Columbus, Oh
Initially the hub was a little loose, so I pulled everything to tighten the bearing retaining nut only to find the stub shafts had play in them. Now I think I'm just being paranoid about the stub shafts.
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Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 17,799
Likes: 104
From: Ashland City, TN
oh, your talking about the outer axle shaft.
That should have a little play.
There is a bearing and seal on the back side of the spindle. If the seal goes bad, the bearings go bad. I've never had one lock up on me yet though.
That should have a little play.
There is a bearing and seal on the back side of the spindle. If the seal goes bad, the bearings go bad. I've never had one lock up on me yet though.
Postmaster
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 3,447
Likes: 0
From: Monroe City in
Todd we got the rest of my axle put together today. And i made sure to wiggle the shaft and it does have a little play. Did those hubs work like they should? And William you are right about how to tighten the nuts. My father in law was showing me all that today. I learned alot.
Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 11,132
Likes: 3
From: Southern West Virginia
After looking at this thread title for three days, I can no longer resist to ask this question..........Why are you playing with your stub shaft? 
The axle shaft will move a little with the hubs out. The spindle bearing is like the inner bearing for the axle shaft, and the hubs act as an outer bearing to hold the end of the shaft in place. When the hubs are worn out, sometimes they can raise nine kinds of he!!. I had a '95 F250 with Superwinch locking hubs and the bronze bushing in the hub wore out. When I'd get up to 50 mph it felt like it was gonna shake all the glass out of the cab. I could lock the hubs in, and it was smooth as silk.
The axle shaft will move a little with the hubs out. The spindle bearing is like the inner bearing for the axle shaft, and the hubs act as an outer bearing to hold the end of the shaft in place. When the hubs are worn out, sometimes they can raise nine kinds of he!!. I had a '95 F250 with Superwinch locking hubs and the bronze bushing in the hub wore out. When I'd get up to 50 mph it felt like it was gonna shake all the glass out of the cab. I could lock the hubs in, and it was smooth as silk.
Thread Starter
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Lead Driver
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 5,135
Likes: 46
From: Columbus, Oh
I've been very cautious with them Gabe. They got me out of some ice Friday and a real wet spot at my brothers yesterday, so they are working, just don't know how much I trust them. Lol
Bill, I did just get married!!!
Bill, I did just get married!!!