Possible bearing out of round

Tiny
CCURRELL
  • MEMBER
  • 2007 FORD ESCAPE
  • 3.0L
  • V6
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 180,000 MILES
Trying to replace rear bearings. Did the drivers side and it looks like everything went well. The passenger side is a different story. The bearing on this side was very bad and driven months with a hollowing bearing. I have installed three bearings on this side in two days and the hub is always very lose and wobbly. I put the bearing in with a kit I purchased and use a ratchet, not an impact gun. I am starting to think the hole the bearing goes into is not round anymore and distorting the bearing while I install it. Though when I put the bearing in I use very little force on the ratchet. Any ideas?
Saturday, March 30th, 2019 AT 2:58 PM

7 Replies

Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,797 POSTS
Good evening,

Can you post a picture of what you see so I can see what you see?

Roy
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Saturday, March 30th, 2019 AT 7:29 PM
Tiny
CCURRELL
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Roy,
Thanks for you help.
I have now put two bearing in and get the same result both times.
Video (Click to make bigger)
Thumb
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Saturday, March 30th, 2019 AT 8:07 PM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
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Got it.

The nut for that hub has a torques of 155 lbs. If you tightened it with a ratchet, then it being too loose is what caused it to fail.

Roy
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Sunday, March 31st, 2019 AT 5:49 AM
Tiny
CCURRELL
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The bearing is brand new. It was installed about ten minutes before that video. I haven't even installed the axle yet or the axle nut. I used a ratchet to install the bearing using this kit:

https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B01FLVOAZI/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I did the other side first and it worked perfectly. Is it possible that the knuckle the bearing goes into is not round any more?
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Sunday, March 31st, 2019 AT 6:31 AM
Tiny
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Yes, that is very possible.

If it did not press in like the other side, then it has been damaged.

Roy
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Sunday, March 31st, 2019 AT 6:34 AM
Tiny
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Is there a way to test this? Or do I have to remove that arm and take it to a machine shop? A new arm is about $300.00 new. I will have a look at the wreckers next week as well.
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Sunday, March 31st, 2019 AT 8:07 AM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
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You would need to measure the inside diameter or the hub and the same on the bearing.

Roy
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Sunday, March 31st, 2019 AT 10:42 AM

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