Author Topic: what holds the front wheel bearing / hub in place?  (Read 7231 times)

October 17, 2009, 11:08:32 pm

flapjack

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what holds the front wheel bearing / hub in place?
« on: October 17, 2009, 11:08:32 pm »

My brakes felt and sounded like the pads were spent. Sounded like metal on metal. Looking at the disk, I see a few stripes on it, looks like the outside pad is worn.  After taking the caliper off, the pad has a good 1/8" of life left in it.  The disk was rubbing against the caliper carrier. The part that doesn't move!
The big nut on the end of the axle was loose.  I'm thinking, this gave it the freedom to move around, but when the wheel is tightened with the four lugs against the hub, does it matter if the axle nut is loose? Does that big nut hold the hub in place?


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Reply #1October 17, 2009, 11:12:41 pm

truckinwagen

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Re: what holds the front wheel bearing / hub in place?
« Reply #1 on: October 17, 2009, 11:12:41 pm »
the wheel bearing has a two piece inner race, if the big nut is loose and the car is driven the inner races are allowed to come apart, destroying the bearing.

unfortunately your wheel bearing sounds like it is bad.
83 Opel Kadett Diesel

Reply #2October 17, 2009, 11:17:21 pm

flapjack

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Re: what holds the front wheel bearing / hub in place?
« Reply #2 on: October 17, 2009, 11:17:21 pm »
Great! it's only a year old too . ..  :P 
thanks for the quick reply
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Reply #3October 17, 2009, 11:25:55 pm

truckinwagen

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Re: what holds the front wheel bearing / hub in place?
« Reply #3 on: October 17, 2009, 11:25:55 pm »
I had the same thing happen to me a couple years ago, it is vitally important that the axle nut stay incredibly tight.
83 Opel Kadett Diesel

Reply #4October 17, 2009, 11:45:44 pm

rabbitman

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Re: what holds the front wheel bearing / hub in place?
« Reply #4 on: October 17, 2009, 11:45:44 pm »
My Dad's golf had a "loose bearing", turns out the nut was loose so I tightened it and that fixed everything. I don't think the bearing got wrecked either since it's been a few months with no issues. ;D
'82 Rabbit, I put on a euro vnt-15, 2.25" DP, 2.5" exhaust, the result.....it whistled.

I removed the turbo, made a toilet bowl 2.5" DP, the result....it was deafening. Now it has a homemade muffler up front and a thrush in the rear, the result.....less loud.
Watch: AGENDA, GRINDING AMERICA DOWN

Reply #5October 17, 2009, 11:47:24 pm

truckinwagen

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Re: what holds the front wheel bearing / hub in place?
« Reply #5 on: October 17, 2009, 11:47:24 pm »
might have gotten lucky, it doesn't take too many miles with a loose nut to wreck a wheel bearing.
83 Opel Kadett Diesel

Reply #6October 19, 2009, 10:16:38 am

lord_verminaard

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Re: what holds the front wheel bearing / hub in place?
« Reply #6 on: October 19, 2009, 10:16:38 am »
Also remember that the axle nuts are supposed to be one-time use only.

Brendan
81 Scirocco 'S -->Soon to be m-TDI
93 Corrado SLC VR6
'86 Golf N/A Diesel  -->Wife's car
1990 Audi CQ
05 New Beetle PD TDI


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