Tips For Wheel Hub Bearings
In the early days, vehicles generally used single-row tapered roller or ball bearings as wheel hub bearings, and these bearings were often used in pairs. However, with the development of technology, car hub bearing units have been widely adopted. This change not only improves vehicle performance, but also simplifies maintenance procedures.
The development of wheel hub bearing units can be divided into three generations. The first generation of wheel hub bearing units consists of double-row angular contact bearings, and its design enhances the bearing’s load capacity and stability. Subsequently, the second generation of products introduced a fixed flange design on the outer raceway. This innovation allows the bearing to be easily mounted on the axle and easily fixed by nuts, greatly simplifying the vehicle maintenance process.
Entering the third generation, the wheel hub bearing unit has achieved a perfect integration with the anti-lock braking system (ABS). This generation of products adopts an innovative inner and outer flange design. The inner flange is firmly fixed to the drive shaft by bolts, while the outer flange is responsible for assembling the entire bearing unit together. This design not only improves the compactness and safety of the structure, but also further enhances the braking performance and handling stability of the vehicle.
Worn or damaged wheel hub bearings and wheel hub units may cause unexpected failures during vehicle driving, which not only affect comfort, but may even pose a threat to the safety of drivers and passengers.
Please pay attention to the following matters when using and installing wheel hub bearings:
Regular inspection and maintenance:
Regardless of the age of the vehicle, wheel hub bearings should be inspected regularly. Pay special attention to early signs of bearing wear, such as abnormal friction noise during rotation or abnormal deceleration of the suspension combination wheel when turning. For rear-wheel drive vehicles, it is recommended to lubricate and maintain the front wheel hub bearings when driving up to 38,000 kilometers. At the same time, when replacing the brake system, the bearing status should be checked and the aged oil seal should be replaced at the same time.
Noise diagnosis:
If you hear noise coming from the wheel hub bearing area, the first task is to accurately locate the source of the noise. It is necessary to eliminate the interference of other moving parts and confirm whether it is internal noise of the bearing. Once the bearing is confirmed to be damaged, it should be replaced immediately to avoid further damage.
Principle of replacement in pairs:
Since the working environment of the bearings on both sides of the front wheel hub is similar, when one side of the bearing is found to be damaged, it is recommended to replace the bearings in pairs at the same time to ensure that the force on both sides is even and the service life is extended.
Professional operation and tools:
The disassembly, assembly and maintenance of the wheel hub bearings require the correct methods and special tools to avoid damage to the bearing components. The instructions of the automobile manufacturer should be read in detail before operation to ensure that each step of the operation complies with the specifications.
Clean environment:
The installation of the bearings should be carried out in a clean and dust-free environment to prevent particulate contamination from shortening the bearing life. It is strictly forbidden to knock the bearings during installation to ensure that the bearings are not damaged by external forces. At the same time, check the status of the shaft and the bearing seat. Any slight wear may lead to poor fit and cause early failure.
Avoid disassembly and adjustment:
For the wheel hub bearing unit, it is strictly forbidden to disassemble or adjust the sealing ring privately to avoid damaging the sealing performance, causing water, dust and other impurities to enter and damage the bearing.
Special treatment of ABS device:
For bearings equipped with ABS magnetic thrust rings, special attention should be paid to protecting the thrust rings from collision, impact and magnetic field interference during installation. Before installation, the thrust ring should be kept away from the magnetic field source. During installation, ensure that the thrust ring is correctly pointed at the ABS sensitive element to avoid failure of the brake system.
Lubrication management:
Sealed bearings usually do not require additional lubrication throughout their life cycle. Non-sealed bearings such as double-row tapered roller bearings must be filled with an appropriate amount of grease during installation. The amount of grease filled should be adjusted according to the size of the bearing cavity. It is generally recommended to fill it to about 50% of the bearing clearance to avoid overflow due to excessive grease.
Locking nut torque:
When installing the locking nut, the appropriate torque value should be adjusted according to the different bearing types and bearing seats, referring to the relevant instructions to ensure the tightening effect and safe operation of the bearing.