Tow Rig Problem

[chuck schultz]

OK, all you armchair mechanics - please list all likely (and not-so-likely) reasons for front wheel bearing failure on a '95 Dodge 3/4-ton van, excluding improper installation.

The van does have 20mm-wider-than-factory tires, and probably needs an alignment (looks like maybe excess negative camber.) It's eaten up at least 2 sets of wheel bearings on each side, with less than 5000 miles driving over the period. I've ruled out failure by installers since at least 5 different mechanics have had a hand in this mess (including the guy working for the previous owner.)

One other symptom which may or may not be directly related - occasional rubbing on the fender flare by only the right-front tire when going through dips or potholes. The ride height is very close, if not exactly even, from side to side.

[slowautoxr]

I replaced a '89 Dodge Ram D100 front right wheel bearing utilizing the factory service manual. When it was all done, it didn't seem right to me but I did it per the FSM. 10 miles down the road I had a complete failure. All torques were specified as XX foot-pounds EXCEPT the spindle nut which was in inch-pounds which I found out when I was doing the job the 2nd time.

How are they failing? Do they get hot? IIRC your van had around 100k miles on it. I really wouldn't expect anything to be worn out but after 2 sets of bearings, maybe there's something wrong with the spindles. Were all the bearings from the same place? Maybe they were defective.

[bmwe21]

does it have aftermarket wheels, if so do they have factory back spacing, just thinking if they had less back space + extreme neg. camber+ the weight of the van? just a thought!--

on older cars and trailers ect. I have always snugged the spindle nut up and then backed it off 1/4 turn, but when I did my 2000 Nissian truck you had to preload the bearings and then use a scale to check the rolling resistance. When I stopped doing industrial work maybe 10 years ago this was the way that National Bearings suggested that you set bearings as well.

Do you no if the rotors have been changed? maybe wrong rotors, go to auto parts store and see how many (if any ) different rotors were made for that van, bearing fits in rotors machined wrong? after you put new bearings on take a dial indicator and check the end play, if there is still end play after you have snugged the bearings , it seams like you would have a problem with the rotors , if not maybe an alignment problem ?

Chuck these are just ideas, maybe a real automotive mechanic will post something!
I hope my ramblings might help in some way,Byron

[slowautoxr]

What did you do to the van before the 1st set of bearings failed?

[chuck schultz]

What did you do to the van before the 1st set of bearings failed?

The previous owner had brake work done - all new rotors and pads, at least. I bought it and drove it. Got it fixed and drove it some more. Rinse and repeat.

It is a conversion van, with wide wheels and flares, but the door sticker shows 255mm wide tires were original equipment - the ones on it now are 275's.

The installer of the last bearing that failed said something about a torque wrench when I picked up the van - I wonder if he used foot pounds instead of inch pounds. The latest guy did it the old fashioned way, snug and back off.

I think I'll get it on an alignment rack next week to see how far off it is - it may have some toe-out as well. I suspect with those big wheels on a heavy vehicle, any abnormal settings would load the bearings pretty heavily.

[bmwe21]

i would think if he used foot pounds, you probably would not even make it home!
there's got to be some allowance for brake heat/ friction ect.

let us know what you find out!

[slowautoxr]

I had big 275/60-15's on 15x7 or 8 wheels on my truck. They were indeed too big but I never had any wheel bearing problems other than the one I created.

Since new rotors were put on before all your troubles, I'd look there. Maybe they were machined incorrectly. Maybe your spindles are defective as well. Hmmm..... maybe the spindles are bent a little. Are your wheels offset a lot?

[zukitek]

I would lean toward it being the rotor . I would put a new rotor(s) and bearings on .That should only be about $75 worth of parts per side.

When putting it together , I have never gone wrong with packing the bearings by hand,putting about a palm full of grease in the rotor,and tightening the spindle nut to a tick better than snug then spinning the rotor (just to seat the bearings in the races) then backing off the nut and then tighten to 0 lash then pin it .

The exception to that rule is Nissan pickups and some 4x4 front hubs which tend to back the preload off after a few miles and develop "slop" if you dont preload the bearings slightly.

Generally a bearing failure is going to be a condition that creates a bind/friction or a condition that limits lubrication. Slack generally wont but overpreload WILL even if well lubricated.

[chuck schultz]

If the problem persists, I'm going to try to contact the folks who did the conversion. They may know what could cause this problem. Maybe they special-ordered something in the front end that doesn't show up in normal parts "books." There might even be a recall notice.