Page 1 of 1
Rear wheel bearing reliability.
Posted: Mon May 23, 2005 3:55 pm
by John H
I have an 89 Patrol and I'm heading up the Cape in June/July. I am going over everything to ensure that it doesn’t collapse on the 6,000+km trip. I know that my front wheel bearings are OK as I have had the front end apart a zillion times — the back I don’t know about.
I'm wondering how reliable the rear wheel bearings are and do they ever tend to seize up?
My GQ has 320,000km on it and I'd bet they are still original bearings. I know that I should probably replace them but from what I hear it isn’t a DIY job (unless you have a press) and I'm short on $$$$.
Posted: Mon May 23, 2005 3:59 pm
by Camshaft1
Lift the rear up and give em a jiggle and roll the wheel and listen for a rumble. Chance are they are still good. they are tough suckers. but if you are really worried pull the axles out and check what they look like. chances are if they are knackered you will see.
Good luck on your trip!
Posted: Mon May 23, 2005 4:14 pm
by dieseldude
If they are such a pain in the arse to DIY at home, Imagine how much harder it'll be out in the middle of a corrugated road somewhere up there. Remember, you'd be without all the tools you'd have normally (At home).
If they are suspect, I'd be inclined to change them before you go.
Who knows, it might help you un earth other issues which might pop up whilst up there.
Cheers.
I'd be inclined to atleast have them looked over if not replaced.
Posted: Tue May 24, 2005 10:36 am
by John H
Thanks guy's, I'll probably pull the axles out and inspect them. If they look and feel good I'll try and pump some extra grease in there and stick it back together. If they look dodgey I'll get them replaced — at least then it will be apart and I'll only have to pay for the bearings and someone with a press to fit them.
Posted: Tue May 24, 2005 8:43 pm
by Woop
The CAPE rd--particularly that north of the turn-off to Weipa is veeery badly couragated--very hard on body mounts, shocks and axle housings. Its worthwhile checking body mounts out as well as axle housing for cracking as models of that era did have problems with cracking axle housings. On my 4 trips up the Cape in my '89 GQ, i ran lower tyre pressures to help ease the pounding.
Nick
Posted: Wed May 25, 2005 3:48 pm
by John H
Woop wrote:The CAPE rd--particularly that north of the turn-off to Weipa is veeery badly couragated--very hard on body mounts, shocks and axle housings. Its worthwhile checking body mounts out as well as axle housing for cracking as models of that era did have problems with cracking axle housings. On my 4 trips up the Cape in my '89 GQ, i ran lower tyre pressures to help ease the pounding.
Nick
Funny that, I spend three days solid over the weekend checking, re-welding and re-inforcing body mounts and also the rear spring towers. I already braced the diff housings and front panharh mount a few years ago so they should be OK.
Cheers