Wheel slop

cavmedic · #1 03-13-2012, 02:15 PM

I just got my front wheels back for my 1450 from the local shop yesterday. I went to install them last night and noticed there is some side to side slop. There seems to be some travel laterally on the spindle . Is this normal ? It looks as if the shim or washer on the mounting bolt does not press firmly against the wheel due to the new wheel bearings having a slightly wider inner collar. I do not know it's original good condition as the wheel bearings and tires were shot when I got it. The best way to describe what I think it may need is another shim that rides over the wheel bearing to fill that gap.

Looking at the parts diagram on CC.com , it looks like the original wheel bearings have that beveled inner collar also. Unless that movement is ok , but I cant see anything good becoming of that travel over time.

This is also not the slop in the spindles where they mount to the front arm , that is another issue to be dealt with .

cmatthew · #2 03-13-2012, 02:27 PM

i had the same issue with my 123 with the gap being very small. i ended up getting some fiber washers that were thin enough to fill the gap without overfilling. which would make the bolt and washer put too much pressure on the bearings. if you had a bushing in the hub between the bearings than it would not matter. but i do not have that. and figured washer thin enough is the cheaper route and is the same thing.

maddog784 · #3 03-13-2012, 02:32 PM

I wouldn't expect you should have a lot of slop - doesn't sound right. CMatthew brings up a good point about taking out the slop and not overtightening the bearings. How much are you talking? Can you quantify?

CADplans · #4 03-13-2012, 02:34 PM

You want some clearance, but, slop bothers some of us!!

On one machine, I got a thick washer and custom bored it so there was a "step" bore in the washer that eliminated the slop.

I had tried a washer before, depending on usage, sometimes thin washers do not last.

cavmedic · #5 03-13-2012, 02:58 PM

Maybe like 1/8 inch or a tad more . Enough for it to make metal on metal noise and me to really notice it and ponder.... I may use the fiber washer idea on the inside of wheel , and attempt to bore a fender washer with a uni bit to fit over the spindle and wheel bearing , and maybe stack them so it presses against the spacers and the rim and not the wheel bearing its self.

The problem is , as soon as I fix one thing , something else catches my attention. I don't know when to say when. Before I know it , ill have this thing restored...

maddog784 · #6 03-13-2012, 05:33 PM

It's a heck of a mess, chasing little problems. Lucky for you, you've found a good support group!

Seeing all of the restored cubs on here makes it hard to resist.

cavmedic · #7 03-13-2012, 10:15 PM

Most of it was take up when I tightened the knuckles. The rest was cured by taking a 1.5" fender washer and using the UNI Bit to ream it out to slightly bigger than the collar on the wheel bearing. Between the new shim and the original shim on the spindle bolt that holds the wheel , I used a thin rubber washer so I can snug it but not over do it. Also snugged up the ball joint back at the steering column , and now she is golden. Very little bit of play in the steering wheel. If I tightened the jam nuts too much , the steering gets a little too tight for my liking. Good enough for government work.