Wheel bearings
When you are checking your wheel bearings what are you looking for specifically on the bearings to see if they need to be replaced or just repacked and how often do they usually need to be replaced if...
Forum Discussion
You can use a little logical thinking in the case of wheel bearings.
In some places, tapered roller bearings DO require a slight preload, such as pinion bearings. And that is tolerable only because they run in oil.
Any greased bearing w/ zero clearance or preload on it, in theory has no room for grease, therefore will suffer an early failure. This was proven when disc brakes first came out, and a preload was called for to keep the brakes from dragging. But there was massive bearing failure because of the "NO ROOM FOR GREASE" A year (or less) later the preload spec was dropped, and so did the bearing failure.
NEVER run a preload on a greased bearing, it will fail from lack of lubrication.
In some places, tapered roller bearings DO require a slight preload, such as pinion bearings. And that is tolerable only because they run in oil.
Any greased bearing w/ zero clearance or preload on it, in theory has no room for grease, therefore will suffer an early failure. This was proven when disc brakes first came out, and a preload was called for to keep the brakes from dragging. But there was massive bearing failure because of the "NO ROOM FOR GREASE" A year (or less) later the preload spec was dropped, and so did the bearing failure.
NEVER run a preload on a greased bearing, it will fail from lack of lubrication.
