tapered bearings for 2006 ranger?

[bluebombersfan]

When I purchased my 2006 Ranger Sport the dealer put it on a hoist and I could feel some free play indicating loose wheel bearings. He told me that because these are tapered bearings that this was normal. Was that bs?

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

There shouldn't be any noticeable play, they should be tightened/replaced as required.

That said... are we talking a 2wd or 4x4? IIRC, 2wds had the old standard tapered roller bearings but the 4x4 trucks from 1998 and newer use unit bearings which there is no way to adjust the tension on the bearing - when they go bad, you have to toss the whole assembly. On the plus side it makes changing rotors easier. On the negative side, the units tend to be more expensive than a couple tapered roller bearings.

 

[pjtoledo]

on tapered roller bearings the inner races have some clearance so they can slide onto the spindle shaft. that causes a slight amount of play. if the inner races have spun and galled the shaft that also creates play. a couple thousandths at the bearing translates to a few thousandths at the wheel edge.

 

[bluebombersfan]

it is a 2wd. It's a fresh safety, I guess he did it himself.

 

[adsm08]

on tapered roller bearings the inner races have some clearance so they can slide onto the spindle shaft. that causes a slight amount of play. if the inner races have spun and galled the shaft that also creates play. a couple thousandths at the bearing translates to a few thousandths at the wheel edge.

Bull. The inners do have some clearance at the races, but once the outer it adjusted correctly the wheel should have no noticeable play.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Bull. The inners do have some clearance at the races, but once the outer it adjusted correctly the wheel should have no noticeable play.

This ^^^^


You'd have to pull it apart to see if anything is actually bad or if it just wasn't properly tightened. Sometimes it just needs repacked with grease and the packing properly torqued. Not hard to do at all. Messy, but not hard.

 

[adsm08]

Now you will be able to grab the shaft and feel up and down play there though.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Now you will be able to grab the shaft and feel up and down play there though.

That sounded wrong....

 

[PanamaExpat]

Now you will be able to grab the shaft and feel up and down play there though.

That sounded wrong....

I think that was one of those moments where eloquence escaped him.

 

[armadillon]

Ooo man, adsm, light some candles first...

 

[adsm08]

I think that was one of those moments where eloquence escaped him.

Like usual you mean?

Ooo man, adsm, light some candles first...

Hmm, ain't got none. How's a bunch of old boxes and particle board? Still have scads of that.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Like usual you mean?



Hmm, ain't got none. How's a bunch of old boxes and particle board? Still have scads of that.

Ahh, nothing quite like redneck candles.... just be sure to dump some used motor oil on 'em.....

 

[armadillon]

Ahh, nothing quite like redneck candles.... just be sure to dump some used motor oil on 'em.....

Aw cmon, don't burn up all the lube!

 

[adsm08]

Ahh, nothing quite like redneck candles.... just be sure to dump some used motor oil on 'em.....

I have a few gallons sitting around that I have been thinking about dumping in there one of these times, just to see if it will make things burn faster.

 

[pjtoledo]

Bull. The inners do have some clearance at the races, but once the outer it adjusted correctly the wheel should have no noticeable play.

referencing the outer bearing. if the inner race has a couple of thou's between it and the spindle, how is pressing a flat washer/nut up against it going to eliminate side to side play?
What about in and out play? taken care of by the pressure from the nut.
slight side to side/rocking play? those couple of thou's are multiplied by the distance to the outer edge of the wheel and may be noticible.
lets not forget that both inner races don't stay exactly aligned as they were installed, they can rotate slowly and cause wear on the load side/bottom of the spindle.