[Healeys] Front wheel bearing 'distance piece'

Bob Spidell bspidell at comcast.net
Tue Apr 7 15:43:09 MDT 2009


My father has surmised--or read somewhere--that the distance piece's function is to 'lock' the inner and outer bearing to each other and to the stub axle to prevent them from turning on the axle. He said Henry Ford took the opposite approach; i.e. leave the bearings free to turn some on the axle so the races don't wear in one spot. 

I suspect Norman Nock would know the 'official' purpose of the spacer. 


Bob 



This ought to start something with the engineers out there: With my limited 
experience after studying my hubs during the rebuild I believe the distance 
pieces are used just to get the proper end float of the hubs. The distance 
pieces along with the shims ride on the bearings from the inboard side 
allowing a very accurate end float measurement (distance) to be obtained. I 
do not think they are primarily associated with strength. If the pieces are 
not present you cannot set the end float therefore possibly placing too much 
lateral force on the bearings when tightening the castle nut to the specified 
torque setting of 70 ft lbs. 

Just my opinion, 

George Haywood 
'65 bj8 


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