Rear wheel issue

turabaka · 10-07-2013, 07:18 PM

I just got done replacing my rear wheel bearings because they had some play in them. I noticed some odd noise coming from the driver's side rear wheel tonight while driving, and decided to check the wheel when I got home. I noticed some play up and down, but none side to side. The amount of movement is very slight. Enough that you can feel it when you shake the wheel, but not enough to easily see with your eyes.

Nothing obvious is loose or broken, and I would think if it was still that bearing there would be play left to right as well as up and down, but it's perfect side to side.

Any ideas for what is wrong with it? I'm completely lost at this point.

The car is an 84 N/A, so early steel trailing arms.

mikepellegrini · mikepellegrini's Garage

You torqued it to 350 Ft lbs? There really should be any play. Re-check the torque.

turabaka · 10-07-2013, 10:18 PM

I'll recheck the torque, but I definitely set the wrench to 350ft/lbs. is it possible for things to have settled slightly?Because that play wasn't there right after I got done doing the bearings.

mikepellegrini · mikepellegrini's Garage

Yeah, that's the only thing I could think of.

mytrplseven · mytrplseven's Garage

I've been researching this exact process for a couple of days and one comment on a forum post stated that when he finished the install of the rear bearing and axle he felt he may have damaged the inner part of the bearing race (possibly by using too small a tool) and when he finished, the wheel began to move laterally like it had failed. Don't know if that's relevant to your particular issue or not.

turabaka · 10-09-2013, 11:19 PM

I just finished doing the passenger side wheel bearing, and re-torquing the driver's side axle nut. The passenger side is better than it was before the bearing change, but it now has the same amount of play as the driver's side. re-torquing the driver's side axle nut had no effect on the amount of play either.

Is it possible that the small amount of up/down play I'm getting is normal? There is absolutely no side to side movement at all.

CHICKS · 10-10-2013, 08:21 AM

What bearings did you use?

turabaka · 10-10-2013, 08:43 AM

I used this bearing kit from Paragon

Porsche 924 and 944 Wheel Bearing Kit.

Slam · 10-11-2013, 08:58 AM

Sure you didn't put one in backwards? If you did the roller retainer breaks when you torque the wheel nut. Instant death to the bearing.

turabaka · 10-11-2013, 11:23 AM

The bearings they sent me are symmetrical. I didn't notice a difference on the retainer for either side of any of the bearings. I noticed that the old bearings were asymmetrical, and only had a retainer on one side though. The new bearings seemed to be exactly the same as the old ones in every other regard though.

flagtie · 10-13-2013, 09:03 PM

I think your probably being paranoid. Both sides have just a teeny tiny up and down play. Big deal. They're cars not laser surgery machines. And what was that odd noise like anyway? Something else? Maybe your listening too hard. Did you try turning up the radio?

Besides the replacement job isn't that hard. The very worst case scenario is you do it again in 10,000 miles.

Umm...You got those spacers in correct, right?

turabaka · 10-14-2013, 12:28 AM

Yeah the spacers are in correctly. I triple checked those.

You're probably right about me being paranoid.

The sound I heard comes and goes. It's a slight knocking/clicking noise. Probably one of those damned cardone re-manufactured axles. I'm on my second set now. First set had an axle fail in about a week. At least they're lifetime warranty, and the wait to get a new set is usually next day from my work. I'm just worried about it being the bearings since I didn't noticed the noise until after I did them.