How hot should wheel bearings get / not get

Post by **grenjs** » 01 Jun 2008, 19:52

Just got back from Stonor (a 25 mile journey) and heard a noise which I thought might be a wheel bearing.

So as soon as we stopped at home, I checked to see how hot the bearing caps were. The two fronts were undoubtedly hot (not enough to burn the skin, but 'hot'), whilst the rears were cooler.

Some of the heat might be generated the disc brakes, but I've no idea how warn the bearing do get.

Anyone any idea?

Post by **jamesc76** » 01 Jun 2008, 20:17

jack it up and see if there's any free play in the wheels holding them at 12 & 6 oclock and then at 3 & 9 oclock there shouldnt be any real movement!!! then spin the wheels th hear any rumble in them ?

Post by **toomanytoys** » 01 Jun 2008, 20:24

Should be a tiny amount of play when cold... a noticable "click" but not sloppy... but the brakes do heat up the hubs and there is a lot of metal there so dont cool down very quick

check the pads are not dragging and see if it spins smooth and quiet..

Post by **Red Westie** » 02 Jun 2008, 11:23

Nearly all of this heat would have been generated by the brakes and as the fronts do the lion share of work, the hubs and wheels do get hotter than the rears.
In my experience, they can get very hot to touch but in relative terms that's not really hot at all.
Martin