Fitting Front Wheel Bearings?

[CobERA]

Bob.

I am assembling the front rotors and bearings. I test fitted the inner bearings and found that they do not slide easily onto the spindle of the steering knucle. They only go on about 1/8" before stopping. (See the attached picture.) I have not applied any pressure.

How tight should the fit be?

Thanks,

[Rick Parker]

Take some steel wool and clean the machined shoulder that it slides on. Feel for any nicks that are preventing it from sliding and carefully dress with a file if needed. It should be a snug fit.
Double check the bearing numbers if there is any doubt. No magic needed here.
Rick

[Bob Putnam]

Rick's advice is good.

Thanks!

[CobERA]

Rick,

Thanks. That did the trick.

[David Kirkham]

I would add, when we make spindles, we are extremely careful to only have a 0.0005 clearance between the spindle and the bearing. If there is any more, the bearing will start to walk around on you...especially under hard driving.

I would strongly advise any of you who are using old spindles to check them throughly. By necessity, they are made of high quality steel which loves to corrode. ANY corrosion is cause to immediately reject the part.

We once took an original spindle off of a Cobra and sent it out for testing because the bearing surface was giving up. We noticed a slight rust spot on the surface and didn't give it much thought. By chance, the lab cut the spindle right through the rust spot to do the chemical anaylsis...

The rust spot was about 1/16 of an inch on the surface...and 1/4 of an inch across 1/8 of an inch deeper into the part!!! Any rust means give it the Navy float test.

David