Help!!!! Loads of movement in front wheel.

[ferris]

My front wheel has loads of movement in it. So much, im shocked it has'nt fallen off yet. Any ideas?????

[chan]

wheel bearing is shot mate. but check the wheel nuts just incase.

search for a guide on the forum or difflock forum im sure you will find a guide how to adjust or replace the bearing if necessary.

[Henry]

Movement will lilkely to be the front hub bearings.

Easy fix, did a friends in no time at all.

Only thing you may need is a large adjustable/socket to get the 2 big nuts off.

[ferris]

Cheers for the replies guys. I have to try and pick one up tomorrow.

Will it still be ok to drive? or is the wheel likely to fall off??

[carnut]

ferris, it depends on how bad it is.. its unlickly to fall off, because of the way the bearing is made, but if its that loose, it can loosen the securing nuts. (yes i have seen it happen).
I would advise you not to drive it until you have investigated further.
like henty said,, easy to do! if your not sure,, let me know.
andy.

[Henry]

Do not drive it is my only advice.

For two reasons...

Saftey and further damage.

Henry

[bourneyo]

Yea i deffinatly wouldn't drive it with shot wheel bearings. it may just be a case of tightening up the nuts, either with a big adjusterbal spanner, or a 50mm socket! but they are an easy job to replace, take about 30 min.
there isn't a guide on the DIY page.

but basicly:
1.jack up, remove wheel
2. remove free wheeling hubs or stock hubs if they are stock you need to remove the brass cap 1st then the circlip then hub body. if its FW hubs remove dial, remove circlip then main body
3. should now be able to acces the 50mm nut, bend back the tabs on the retaining washer, remove 1st nut, then retaining washer then 2nd nut
4.bearings can now be removed, clean the hub before fitting new bearings.
5.put it all back together.

that was off the top of my head, but am fairly sure its about right, its not a hard job and will make more sense when you do it. if you wanted to take a few piks as you do the job with the odd note and send them to me i can do a propper write up for the DIY page.

Dan

[ScottieJ]

It could also be the kingpin bearings

jack it up and give it a wobble, get someone elso to look at where the movement is. if there is no movement on the swivel then its wheel bearing, if the swivel moves with everything it is the kingpin bearings.

[ferris]

Yeah it was the wheel bearing, just finnished replacing it. I was quite straight forward, apart from the old inner bearing was stuck on solid after hitting it with a bfh for half an hour, i had to saw it off. and i also mannaged to snap one of the bolts for the fw hubs

Think im going to need a new disk and caliper aswell, as they suffured a bit of damage while i was driving it with the bearings gone.

I didnt get any picture while i was doing it cause it was to dark, and i was getting my hair off but heres a picture of it before i started.....as you can see it was quite bad.

[carnut]

bloody hell,,, thats an understatement!!!!!. when you said a bit off play?? it was possably your disk that was holding the wheel up.
glad you done it ok..
andy.