Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Maintenance & Servicing front wheel bearings 1978 4/4

is it correct to leave a small amount of play when adjusting front wheel bearings , used to tighten up them, back back at least one castellation or until the wheel spun free without play just wondered what the experts say thanks bruce

The objective is indeed to get a free-spinning wheel with no play, and a fraction of play is better than a fraction too tight but I've been given different advice on how to achieve it.

One Morgan expert told me he did it as you have done, ie tighten them up and then back off, the other said to just do up the castellated nut until it was just snug with a pair of long-handled snipe-nosed pliers to avoid over tightening the bearing.

Personally I use the latter method, but I don't think it makes much difference, so long as they are not so tight as to overheat the bearing, or so loose as to fail an MOT.

They are remarkably resilient and durable things. I changed mine at 100k miles mainly because I though I ought to, and the old bearings were absolutely fine when I took them out.

Old Men have lots of stories.

I use the first method: Tighten snug than back off one castellated.

After Mrs. Button died I needed to get outa here. I planned to go to Key West and meet the "GATOR" Club for the Run. My Mentor suggested I check the front wheel bearings. After a week or so My Mentor asked Me "Did You check the Wheel Bearings". "No but I will". The day before I was to leave again "Did You check Your Wheel Bearings". My Mentor is rarely wrong. I delayed My trip a day and removed the Bearings. Took them to My Machinist who told Me "These are no good" and ordered Me a new set. Had I not checked them I probably would have broken down in the middle of Montana or South Dakota. Not a good place to find bearings.

thanks all always appreciated