over torquing wheel bearings

[darkdan]

Is it the front or rear bearings you have to watch out for overtorquing? I remember one of them if you tighten the nut too much they wear out super fast.

I just did one side of the fronts and I'm going to do the other side this weekend.

[oxbrain]

most auto parts stores will let you rent torque wrenches for pretty cheap or free. It's so much easier than breaking things.

[darkdan]

Oh yeah, I have the torque wrench. Just no torque specs (maybe it's in the book, but I haven't looked) and I can't remember if it's the front or rear bearings.

[FB71]

any bearing will wear prematurely if over-torqued.

[brymer]

Just be easy with them. Torque them while spinning either the drum, or the rotor, until they are hard to spin, then back them off about a 1/4 turn. And remember to use NEW cotter pins.

[wtfman2]

no cotter pins on Festivas, just the little crush nuts and a slot on the spindle or axle shaft.

Clinton

[darkdan]

In my shop manual it says to torque that big bolt to 124 ft lbs or something....so I think I'm set.

[Safety Guy]

Dan has an Aspire ya'll. They do have the cotter pin setup, on the rear axles.

BTW, Dan, how do you not remember whether it is a front or rear job? Don't the Aspire (and Festiva) front hubs have to have their bearings pressed out or something? And there is a special way to ensure proper bearing set in the hub? The rear bearings on both cars are very easily "user serviceable" compared to the front bearings, as I understand it. I've seen the "bare knuckles/hubs" on both cars and I don't remember anything remotely "easy" about front bearing removal/installation (though I've read it's possible if you know what you're doing & have the proper tools). And I've done the rear bearings and brakes on both Festiva and Aspire rear axles so I'm "passingly familiar" with them.

Karl

[wtfman2]

No cotter pins there either.

Clinton

[darkdan]

Well I'm in the middle of doing the fronts. Did the driver's side. The passanger side maybe this weekend.

I just remember someone having a thread that they did their wheel bearings, it failed, did it again, they failed....I couldn't remember if it was the front or back.

Luckily, I have a friend/customer that does a lot of lifts on trucks. So he has pretty much a full shop including like a 5 ton press! =) So it was easy for him to press out and in the new races and wheel bearings.

Also it helps I just did front struts and tie rod ends because the whole front end of my car came apart easy this time since it hasn't had time to rust solid. =) Of course, I will need an alignment when we're done. =(

[Safety Guy]

Dan wrote:

"Also it helps I just did front struts and tie rod ends because the whole front end of my car came apart easy this time since it hasn't had time to rust solid. =) "

I know what you mean. I hope my '93GL will be a lot easier than my rust-encrusted '89L was when I do my next suspension swap!

Karl