Knuckle preload spacer missing

[JIMITHING]

How do you know what size spacer is needed between your bearings ?

[Nerd Racing]

trial and error, gotta figure out which one give you the right pre-load.

[JIMITHING]

how do you do that?

[Nerd Racing]

you need a preload tester and lots of time. might be better off just sourcing another front knuckle assembly with the spacer.

[blitzbuggy]

i just used what came out and i have no problems,if i had to guess the size, it was about an 1/8 of an inch, the bearings are pressed on the spindle, the spacer or shim is used to take up the gap between the 2 races, i do have a spare spacer kicking around here some where though. i will try to find it up and measure for sure,

[WmWatt]

Lots of info has been posted in this forum. Do a search on front wheel bearings. You need and inch-pound torque wrench although one guy used a spring scale taped to a rod. Some people on this site have the special tool. You might find one at a garage or Ford dealership. Kia dealships should have them. Here in Ottawa you can buy the spacers from a Kia dealership for $10 each on special order and you have to know what one you need. There are 21(?) in the set, each slightly thicker than the next.

[nitrofarm]

So many of the cars I've taken apart have number # 10 installed. Have you folks found this to be true? Jus wondering....

[25Horseplay]

So many of the cars I've taken apart have number # 10 installed. Have you folks found this to be true? Jus wondering....

Not me, I have seen all kinds of different sizes. Normally using the ones that came out works. (don't mix up sides)

[WmWatt]

11,12,14,16 on the 4 wheels I've done.
Parts clerk at Kia dealership says they start with #12
and do trial-and-error. Guess they don't have the tool.

[nitrofarm]

Not me, I have seen all kinds of different sizes. Normally using the ones that came out works. (don't mix up sides)

All I've seen is 10,11 & 12. And I just put em all on the bench and swish em around. Then I have my kid pick a couple that look good. Then I install those,works like a charm

[FB71]

I have 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13 shims. I've found mostly 10s, 11s and 12s in hubs. I have the tools and shims, and I'm not afraid to use them!!!

Oh, and my local Kia dealer stocks 8 thru 13, too!

[nitrofarm]

I have 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13 shims. I've found mostly 10s, 11s and 12s in hubs. I have the tools and shims, and I'm not afraid to use them!!!

Oh, and my local Kia dealer stocks 8 thru 13, too!

Yes somebody concurs with me. Now I know I'm not going Krazy ! (I know thats debatable) I inherited a 1/2 gal bucket of misc shims. And was soooo happy,cuz I thought I'll be all dialed in. Come to find out most of them were 9 thru 13's. My guess was that my relative found this to be true as well? But anyway I have a plethora of odd sizes that I NEVER use. :eeeeeek:

[Bert]

After my first backyard replacement set of front bearings baked themselves and seized within 1000 km I had a garage press in the second set of races properly. There was some play in the bearings when the axle nut went on (using the existing not-quite-right spacer) but that car has travelled 60,000 k since and nothing undo has happened either. I can similarly confirm that Kia does stock (or least acknowledge the existence of) 21 versions of preload spacers for Rios and presumably Festys and Aspires. Some car engineering is both smart and stupid at the same time.