Is this a bad wheel bearing?

[computersoc]

Finally have a nice day today so I will change the wheel bearings and pads/rotors. Took the dust cap off the one side and see this. Is that a bad wheel bearing or some bigger issue?

http://imgur.com/SIXw6PS

http://imgur.com/eooVsVi

 

[Dirtman]

Considering i see no grease in there yes... as long as the spindle isn't damaged just change them all. You can do all 4 bearings for about 20 bucks...

 

[racsan]

Really can’t see much yet, take it all apart, clean the bearings in gas and clean the old grease from the rotor hub. Chances are there fine, with the caliper off, spin the rotor, if it’s smooth rolling and not noisy it might be fine. Never hurts to take it all apart, inspect, regrease and put back together with a new seal

 

[racsan]

I did have a bad inner bearing on mine, came apart like this. Had been going bad awhile

 

[Uncle Gump]

The first picture seems to have metallic particles...

If that is the case... don't waste time cleaning.... just replace both inner and outer bearing on both sides.

 

[Dirtman]

For the life of me I can't understand why someone would clean and regrease a 5 dollar bearing when doing rotors... the new rotors come with races. Why put an old bearing on a new race? Especially one with visible metal shavings in it...

 

[Uncle Gump]

I never clean bearings in solvent... or gasoline. I just wipe it clean and inspect. If it's worthy of going back in... packing new grease in will push the old grease out.

Any oil based solvents or gasoline left on the bearing will break down the grease and won't lubricate properly... at least that was what I was taught in mechanics school... nearly 4 decades ago.

 

[computersoc]

I have all new bearings, was just curious if the old one died or there was some issue that will end up killing a new one?

 

[Dirtman]

Could have been improperly tightened. The spindle nut should be torqued to 15-20 inch pounds while spinning the rotor to seat the bearings, then backed off and re-tightened only finger tight.

 

[Uncle Gump]

Take the time to clean ALL the old grease from the hub... you don't want any of that left in there. Drive out the old races and drive in the new races. Properly PACK grease into your new bearings. Do not fill the center of the hub with grease... the cooler grease in the center of the hub will tend to pull the warmer grease from the bearing into the center of the hub... and leave your new bearing starved for grease. Then as dirtman said... preload the bearings... back off the nut and install the cotter pin.