November/December 2017 | VehicleServicePros.com 31
ment of bearings, refi lling new
lubricant to proper levels with
manufacturer’s specifi ed lubricant
(do not mix lubricants)
and repacking lubrication to
manufacturer’s specifi cations
(if providing maintenance for
a greased wheel end).
Hubcap inspection: When
inspecting a hubcap, be sure
to inspect the window for
opaqueness, and that the
center fi ll plug is pliable and
the vent is clear of contaminants.
Th en inspect the side
fi ll plug (if applicable) and the
fl ange for fl atness.
Hub inspection: Finally,
inspect the inside and outside
of the hub. Look for broken
fasteners and bolts, cracks in
the housing and damage to the
hub and bore. If the bearing
cup is loose in the hub, it could
indicate a serious condition
with the hub, which means the
hub must be replaced.
Best practices for
efficient wheel
end maintenance
Care in handling components
and proper tooling are always
critical factors in all procedures,
which leads to successful
wheel end maintenance.
Th ere are two main types of
serviceable wheel hub assemblies:
manually adjusted and
pre-adjusted. Th e re-assembly
instructions are diff erent for
both so be sure to follow the
correct procedure for each
wheel end type.
A pre-adjusted hub assembly
will include a spacer
between the inner and outer
bearings. Th e bearings are
specially toleranced in order
to achieve the targeted adjustment
setting.
Bearing installation is
handled diff erently depending
on whether a service
technician is working with a ferrous hub or an
aluminum hub. With either hub, never directly
hammer on the bearing.
For ferrous hubs, use the proper tool to install the
bearing cups into the hub. For aluminum hubs, heat
the hub in boiling water or in an oven to no more
than 300 degrees F. Do not use localized heat. Chill
the bearing cup in a freezer. Th e hub will expand and
the cup will contract. Place the cup into the hub.
Don’t crack
under pressure.
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©2017 Federal-Mogul Motorparts LLC. All trademarks shown are owned by Federal-Mogul LLC,
or one or more of its subsidiaries, in one or more countries. All rights reserved.
VehicleServicePros.com/10121102
JOHN HEFFERNAN, National Fleet
Sales Manager, SKF, brings years of
wheel end knowledge to his customer
base every day. As a member of
the Technology and Maintenance
Council, Heffernan understands
the importance of wheel end maintenance
and inspection in order to
promote safety on our roadways.
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