The Ford Barn

johnbuckley · 07-01-2012, 07:05 AM

What's the solution to the bearing spinning on the front stub axle? Are there any sleeving kits? Does one chrome the axle? Use a loctite glue? New front stub axles don't seem to be available anywhere.

dave in australia · 07-01-2012, 07:21 AM

My solution would be to turn the stub axle down a bit and fit a sleeve that is the correct size. A hard chrome build up would be very expensive, not something that can be done at home, and still would require machining after plating to get it to the correct size

Tom Wesenberg · 07-01-2012, 08:14 AM

Can you feel the clearance, or is it just enough to turn the bearing? How about a locktite product?

Glenn C. · 07-01-2012, 10:20 AM

The problem with using a locktite product would probably mean that you would loose the ability to set the preload on the bearing. When you use a speedy sleeve you either have to machine down the OD of the spindle fit, to install the sleave, or you would need to locate a special bearing with a larger inside diameter that would allow you to install the bearing on a larger OD sleave without machining the spindle.

When hard chrome is applied to a shaft, preparation machining is required to the surface of the shaft for the chrome to adhear. Stress risers induced into the shaft my be the result, which nobody wants.

Too bad there is not a manufacturer making replacement spindles without having to change over to a modern style front end. Perfect replacement spindles are getting hard to find.

jimvette59 · 07-01-2012, 11:44 AM

John what year and make of car are you talking about and are you talking about the front right of left Spindle ? I would replace the Spindle or have that one turned down and sleeved to the proper size. JMO.

kp · 07-01-2012, 12:13 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Depends on how much slack you have there,I once used locktite on a travel trailer spindle ,pulled it many a mile with out a problem .Also how far, how much ,and how fast do you drive ?

johnbuckley · 07-01-2012, 12:29 PM

looks like sleeing is the best proceedure , but try loctite first, eh? thanks everyone.

john in illinois · 07-01-2012, 12:56 PM

John,all model A bearings have a slip fit on the spindle. They need preload to keep from spinning. Even a spindle with a few thousands wear will work ok. Almost all have some wear.

The service bulletins are not very clear on adjustment. I tighten the nut until I get a drag to compress the bearings tight. I then loosen the nut and tighten it finger tight. I then tighten to the next slot for preload. (using an original 8 slot ford nut.) This keeps the bearing from spinning and wearing the spindle.

John

Ray64 · 07-01-2012, 01:06 PM

On my car i pricked punched the inner hub .Put the race back in with a little locktite.Oh that was about 20.ooo miles ago.Worked for me.

Gord. B by the bay · 07-01-2012, 01:10 PM

I assume you are talking about the spindle bearing race which is turning take a center punch marks around the race so now tap in in place and tyhe marck made by the center punch will not all ow it to turn , it has worked well for 30,000 miles stil doesn't turn worked for me Gord. B by the bay

Bob C · 07-01-2012, 04:27 PM

Have you measured the area where the bearing race rides and an area where it doesn't to see what the difference is ? There was a thread on the old Barn about the bearing inner race turning very little as the car is driven so all the wear is not in the same place---no way you say. I ran across this in a 1986 S-10 GM factory service manual page 3C-9 "Cones must be a slip fit on the spindle and the inside diameter of the cones should be lubricated to insure that the cones will creep".

Let the flaming begin

Bob

ScottNW/Ohio · 07-01-2012, 06:59 PM

A couple of well placed center punch marks should do the trick
If that won't tighten it up enough - repair or replace the spindle

Pete · 07-01-2012, 10:36 PM

A punch mark is an excellent place for a crack to start.

Fred K-OR · 07-01-2012, 10:46 PM

If you want to get a replacement spindle shipped in, you could contact Bert's in Denver, CO and they may have a good used one.

columbiA · 07-01-2012, 11:55 PM

I never adjust front wheel brgs till they have a preload.I tighten them until brgs are seated,spin the wheel,then back off slightly & put a 12" crescent on the nut & let the weight of the wrench tighten the nut & back off to the nearest cotter hole.Never had a brg failure in almost 60 years.

07-01-2012, 07:05 AM	#1
johnbuckley Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 1,441	Bearing spinning on front stub axle What's the solution to the bearing spinning on the front stub axle? Are there any sleeving kits? Does one chrome the axle? Use a loctite glue? New front stub axles don't seem to be available anywhere. Last edited by johnbuckley; 07-01-2012 at 08:20 AM.

07-01-2012, 07:21 AM	#2
dave in australia Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Victoria, Australia Posts: 1,176	Re: Bearing spinning on front stub axle My solution would be to turn the stub axle down a bit and fit a sleeve that is the correct size. A hard chrome build up would be very expensive, not something that can be done at home, and still would require machining after plating to get it to the correct size

07-01-2012, 08:14 AM	#3
Tom Wesenberg Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mpls, MN Posts: 27,582	Re: Bearing spinning on front stub axle Can you feel the clearance, or is it just enough to turn the bearing? How about a locktite product?

07-01-2012, 10:20 AM	#4
Glenn C. Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Didsbury Alberta Posts: 838	Re: Bearing spinning on front stub axle The problem with using a locktite product would probably mean that you would loose the ability to set the preload on the bearing. When you use a speedy sleeve you either have to machine down the OD of the spindle fit, to install the sleave, or you would need to locate a special bearing with a larger inside diameter that would allow you to install the bearing on a larger OD sleave without machining the spindle. When hard chrome is applied to a shaft, preparation machining is required to the surface of the shaft for the chrome to adhear. Stress risers induced into the shaft my be the result, which nobody wants. Too bad there is not a manufacturer making replacement spindles without having to change over to a modern style front end. Perfect replacement spindles are getting hard to find.

07-01-2012, 11:44 AM	#5
jimvette59 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Perry OH Posts: 1,330	Re: Bearing spinning on front stub axle John what year and make of car are you talking about and are you talking about the front right of left Spindle ? I would replace the Spindle or have that one turned down and sleeved to the proper size. JMO.

07-01-2012, 12:13 PM	#6
kp Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Wimberley ,Tx. Posts: 232	Re: Bearing spinning on front stub axle Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Depends on how much slack you have there,I once used locktite on a travel trailer spindle ,pulled it many a mile with out a problem .Also how far, how much ,and how fast do you drive ?

07-01-2012, 12:29 PM	#7
johnbuckley Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 1,441	Re: Bearing spinning on front stub axle looks like sleeing is the best proceedure , but try loctite first, eh? thanks everyone.

07-01-2012, 12:56 PM	#8
john in illinois Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Illinois Posts: 2,184	Re: Bearing spinning on front stub axle John,all model A bearings have a slip fit on the spindle. They need preload to keep from spinning. Even a spindle with a few thousands wear will work ok. Almost all have some wear. The service bulletins are not very clear on adjustment. I tighten the nut until I get a drag to compress the bearings tight. I then loosen the nut and tighten it finger tight. I then tighten to the next slot for preload. (using an original 8 slot ford nut.) This keeps the bearing from spinning and wearing the spindle. John

07-01-2012, 01:06 PM	#9
Ray64 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Grafton,OHIO Posts: 727	Re: Bearing spinning on front stub axle On my car i pricked punched the inner hub .Put the race back in with a little locktite.Oh that was about 20.ooo miles ago.Worked for me.

07-01-2012, 01:10 PM	#10
Gord. B by the bay Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Owen Sound Ont. Canada Posts: 198	Re: Bearing spinning on front stub axle I assume you are talking about the spindle bearing race which is turning take a center punch marks around the race so now tap in in place and tyhe marck made by the center punch will not all ow it to turn , it has worked well for 30,000 miles stil doesn't turn worked for me Gord. B by the bay

07-01-2012, 04:27 PM	#11
Bob C Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: So Cal Posts: 8,749	Re: Bearing spinning on front stub axle Have you measured the area where the bearing race rides and an area where it doesn't to see what the difference is ? There was a thread on the old Barn about the bearing inner race turning very little as the car is driven so all the wear is not in the same place---no way you say. I ran across this in a 1986 S-10 GM factory service manual page 3C-9 "Cones must be a slip fit on the spindle and the inside diameter of the cones should be lubricated to insure that the cones will creep". Let the flaming begin Bob

07-01-2012, 06:59 PM	#12
ScottNW/Ohio Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Convoy, Ohio Posts: 124	Re: Bearing spinning on front stub axle A couple of well placed center punch marks should do the trick If that won't tighten it up enough - repair or replace the spindle

07-01-2012, 10:36 PM	#13
Pete Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Wa. Posts: 5,408	Re: Bearing spinning on front stub axle A punch mark is an excellent place for a crack to start.

07-01-2012, 10:46 PM	#14
Fred K-OR Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Stayton, Oregon Posts: 3,806	Re: Bearing spinning on front stub axle If you want to get a replacement spindle shipped in, you could contact Bert's in Denver, CO and they may have a good used one. __________________ Fred Kroon 1929 Std Coupe 1929 Huckster

07-01-2012, 11:55 PM	#15
columbiA Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: B.C. Canada Posts: 1,746	Re: Bearing spinning on front stub axle I never adjust front wheel brgs till they have a preload.I tighten them until brgs are seated,spin the wheel,then back off slightly & put a 12" crescent on the nut & let the weight of the wrench tighten the nut & back off to the nearest cotter hole.Never had a brg failure in almost 60 years.