6 replies to this topic

[croc7]

If the the outer races of the front bearing must seat against the shoulder in the center of the hub, what is the purpose of the spacer as supplied with the Timken tapered bearing set?

[nicklouse]

to space the inner races.

[croc7]

Hmm. The spacer is not in contact with the inner races- lateral play between them exists. Don’t get it.

[nicklouse]

Hmm. The spacer is not in contact with the inner races- lateral play between them exists. Don’t get it.

should be. opps by inner I mean the smaller of the two.

 Capture.PNG   55.55K   6 downloads

Edited by nicklouse, 20 February 2019 - 08:52 AM.

[nicklouse]

some reading

http://www.theminifo...wheel-bearings/

[Spider]

This came up not too long ago.

 

Basically it comes down the fact that on the fronts, these are 'back-to-front' to most conventional hub assemblies.

 

On a 'conventional' hub, the axle is dead and the hub spins around that. That's fine for a lazy (ie, non-driven) wheel.

 

Where drive is required, the hub is dead and the axle is live. In the Case of the Mini, the live axle is short as it also needs to steer.

 

Without the spacer, a lock nut on the CV would be required, but as the inner bearings would be free to 'float', when loaded say on cornering. they would bear quite heavily on the shaft of the CV and wear that in short time. By having the spacer in there, it allows the CV nut to be done up very tight, clamping all the inner parts in tight assembly, almost making them as one, so shaft of the CV is loaded over a greater area. It also assists with loading of the bearing too.

 

Have a good look and think about the pic that Nick posted up ^.

[croc7]

Lots of interesting stuff, makes more sense now.  Thanks.