Front wheel bearing troubles

[zbph10]

My drivers side wheel bearing was growling at me so I decided to replace it.

I took everything apart and laid it neatly out on a rag in the order I removed it. I paid special attention to how tight the thrust washer was and how much the locking nut was threaded onto the shaft. I took pictures, the whole nine yards.

When I put it back together the wheel went onto the shaft about 1/4" too far causing the rotor to hit the back of the brake caliper.

I took at look at the picture below from Pelicans website and my car did not have the o ring or the spacer installed.

Is the picture wrong or did the PO have it installed wrong?
Anyone else had the front wheel bearings on their 87-89 apart?

Spacer is in red and I did not have this or the o ring installed on my car.

If the picture is wrong what in the heck could be going on?



Thanks
Brian

[Eagledriver]

I had an 86 Carrera and it didn't have the spacer or o-ring either. If yours is like mine then there should be a dust cover then the bearing. I know some of these are dumb questions but did you put in the new bearing race? Is the new bearing the same as the old one? Is the brake caliper on correctly (on the correct side of it's mounting flange?

If you have to you could remove the other side to check to see what is different. The other side could use some new gease anyway.

-Andy

[zbph10]

No offense taken on the dumb questions

Old and new bearings are exactly the same, and I had both bearing races installed just like I took them out.

I know the spacing is different because the clamping nut screwed into the shaft at least a 1/4" of an inch further than when I took it apart. I counted the threads and took pictures.

This is my before picture of the clamping nut, after I installed the new bearings and races in went in another 4 threads.

[zbph10]

I pulled the other wheel apart and there is not a spacer or o ring in that side either.

I don't know what could have happened to make the hub go on farther than it's supposed to?

Any ideas?

[Emission]

It looks as if you'll need to take both fronts off at the same time and compare them side-to-side.

I just did mine on my '86 and I don't recall any spacers either. I replaced the races and bearings and everything went together exactly as before.

[Jim Smolka]

The item in red is a spacer (901 341 623 00), but one must look carefully, other wise it looks like part of the strut. Usually, it stays on the strut and must be driven off to remove.

From the picture above, it looks like there might be some corrosion (white flakes) on the alum hub. If so, media blasting the hub is a good idea followed with a coat of clear paint. .

If possible, compair the old races to the new races.

[zbph10]

I pulled the passenger side apart even further and sure enough it looks like a spacer is installed. Pictures below tell it all.

I would think there would have to be a spacer installed since the grease seal doesn't properly seat against the shaft correctly without it, oil, dirt, and whatever would get into the bearing.

All the service manuals and Pelicans website show an o ring and spacer. The o ring in the picture is a new one I bought.

Passengers side with the spacer


Drivers side without spacer, note the rust on the shaft like there never was a spacer there.


No spacer and grease seal doesn't fit properly


Spacer and a perfect fit


Shouldn't both sides be the same?

[dickster]

you need that spacer by the looks of things. i did mine but don't remember whether there was one or not.

[Emission]

Suggestion: Remove the dust shields while you are in there. Better brake cooling!