WD -- taking front wheels apart to check bearings?

Will Herring · Aug 20, 2018

So, I noticed when putting a new rim on my WD that the front spindle has a good deal of side to side play on the shaft. The grease line shows it shoved all the way up vs. pulled all the way out.

From the manual, looks like you just have to take the hub cap off to get access to that. Should I try to tighten it? Remove the wheel hub and just buy the $45 worth of replacement bearings and be done with it for many years? Or could perhaps the shaft under the hub be worn and causing the slop?

Just kind of curious in advance what I may be getting into.

nashranch · Aug 20, 2018

The very least you'll need is new bearings. I bet the spindle is toast and maybe the hub

krumenacker · Aug 20, 2018

Take it apart, clean it, and take another picture. We could give much better advice.

Bearings/seals are a common normal wear item. $50 per axle will fix it right.

Will Herring · Aug 22, 2018

So basically the plan is I should buy new bearings for both sides, and should take each side apart to check and see if the hubs or spindles are shot. I can do that.

What am I looking for in terms of wear on the spindle or to the hub to see if it needs replaced?

Also -- Worth changing any bearings or items on the pedestal itself while I am at it? Or is that a bear not worth tackling?

krumenacker · Aug 23, 2018

Take it apart first. Clean it The bearings may be OK. Get a manual, those felt seals need to be replaced almost every year and you need to install them in the right order with the hardware pieces facing the right direction.

I had a narrow front, thought was trash. Opened it up, bearings were like new. Everything else backwards and loose. Easy cheap fix. Don't know until you tear it apart.

WD -- taking front wheels apart to check bearings?

Will Herring

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nashranch

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krumenacker

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Will Herring

Well-known Member

krumenacker

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