VIDEO: Seals Are Critical To Wheel Bearing Life
Andrew Markel discusses the importance of the wheel bearing seal and how it withstands intense heat to increase the bearing’s life.
Busted Knuckles: Bearings And Seals For Monobeam Front Axles
Servicing the ball joints and U-joints on monobeam axles requires a fair amount of steering knuckle disassembly just to access these components.
VIDEO: Wheel Bearing Breakdowns
Andrew Markel exposes what wheel bearings go though daily and what contributes to their breakdown.
Servicing Wheel Ends
The trucking industry has a confusing term it uses called “wheel ends.” The term covers (brakes, hubcaps, tires, seals, lubricant, bearings and spindle nuts. A 16 wheeler truck can mean more than 10 wheel ends units that can go bad.
Wheel Hub Damage Analysis
To diagnose the cause of bearing damage, look closely at damaged hubs and compare customers’ hubs with the photos in this article.
Worn Wheel Hub Bearing Symptoms
Driving conditions and installation practices can damage a worn hub. These symptoms often indicate wheel bearing damage.
Hot Engines For Hot Wheels – The Reality Of Building Engines For TV
Richard Rawlings, owner of the Gas Monkey Garage in Dallas and host of “Fast N’ Loud,” was given the opportunity to build a replica 1968 Corvette to celebrate the Hot Wheels Sweet 16, the first series of toy cars produced by Mattel in 1968. He immediately had visions of a blown big block engine to power the classic, and he called on WCH Racing Engines in Midlothian, TX, to build it.
Understanding Wheel Bearing Seals
A seal must always be installed so that the sealing lip is facing the fluid to be sealed. This is because the lip is made so that pressure applied to it from the “wet” side of the seal will tend to increase the pressure the lip applies to the shaft. If the seal is installed backwards, pressure acting on the “wrong” side of the lip will cause it to lift from the shaft, resulting in leakage. On most seals, the correct side is obvious; however, on others it is not.
Drivetrain Noises & Wheel Bearing Replacement
Some of the toughest challenges import specialist techs face are noise complaints. And, in order to make an accurate assessment, we take the time to ask our customers questions like: Is the noise present when the car’s stationary or moving? Does it change around corners or under different load considerations? Is it a growl, squeak, groan or rattle?
Live-Axle Wheel Bearing Replacement
Replacing wheel bearings on a vehicle with a live rear axle may not be one of the most frequent jobs, but it can be one of the most profitable. While the basics have not changed in more than 60 years, new seal materials and differential designs have added new wrinkles.
