Why was my new wheel bearing loose, but tightened after the first drive?
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Why was my new wheel bearing loose, but tightened after the first drive?
1990 Honda Civic LX
I replaced the wheel bearing on the passenger side.
I put the bearing into the freezer for 45 minutes before installing, it slid in pretty easily, but the hub took a bit of force to press in, but nothing crazy.
After installing into the spindle, the bearing/hub was able to slightly move up and down and slightly wiggle side to side.
The movement of the hub seemed excessive to me, it was wiggling a lot. (I decided to order a new bearing but needed to drive the car to pick it up so I put it back together, even though the bearing seemed bad)
After tightening the hub bolt, most of the movement was gone, and after driving the car i wasn't able to see any movement when I wiggle the hub from side to side.
When the tire is on, I can move the tire slightly from side to side, but I realized that's just play in the steering because both tires move simultaneously, just like I'm moving the steering a bit; I don't think that's related.
Should I replace the bearing again or does it sound like it's okay? There was excessive wiggling at first, more than the old bearing had. But after tightening the hub bolt and driving it, there isn't any play. Is this normal? Why did this happen?
I'm guessing it has something to do with "preload", but can anyone explain in simple terms what that is? I couldn't understand it from what I read.
Thanks.
I replaced the wheel bearing on the passenger side.
I put the bearing into the freezer for 45 minutes before installing, it slid in pretty easily, but the hub took a bit of force to press in, but nothing crazy.
After installing into the spindle, the bearing/hub was able to slightly move up and down and slightly wiggle side to side.
The movement of the hub seemed excessive to me, it was wiggling a lot. (I decided to order a new bearing but needed to drive the car to pick it up so I put it back together, even though the bearing seemed bad)
After tightening the hub bolt, most of the movement was gone, and after driving the car i wasn't able to see any movement when I wiggle the hub from side to side.
When the tire is on, I can move the tire slightly from side to side, but I realized that's just play in the steering because both tires move simultaneously, just like I'm moving the steering a bit; I don't think that's related.
Should I replace the bearing again or does it sound like it's okay? There was excessive wiggling at first, more than the old bearing had. But after tightening the hub bolt and driving it, there isn't any play. Is this normal? Why did this happen?
I'm guessing it has something to do with "preload", but can anyone explain in simple terms what that is? I couldn't understand it from what I read.
Thanks.
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