Wheel bearing

[Giovanni]

I have a 1969 122s on which i have noticed excessive play on the rear driveshaft's, the excessive play occurs when you pull the wheel in and out (relative to the car), there is no noticeable play side to side and no unusual noises. The car drives well with no unusual noises however on hard cornering a "clunk" sound can be heard, possibly the driveshafts moving.
I have taken the car to the local garage and they suggest that the wheel bearings are worn and need to be replaced or shimmed. Has any one came across this before, if it is the wheel bearing, can anyone advise on the process for changing them and advise on any special tools that I would need.

Regards:car:

[jakobandhismakarov]

For starters you'll probably need a specialised hub puller.

Derek UK or 222S will know of someone with one you could lend.

[Giovanni]

I have a hub puller, and I have removed the hubs to adjust the brakes.


Regards

Giovanni

[jakobandhismakarov]

I have a hub puller, and I have removed the hubs to adjust the brakes.


Regards

Giovanni

Skills. You're one step ahead of me then :)

[Derek UK]

Yes Jon, I expect I could have helped out someone close to me.
Haynes gives an adequate run down on the job. It's probably best to pull the shafts, even if you think the bearings are good. You can then clean them out and check them properly. At least have new oil seals in hand before doing that. You'll need a slide hammer of some sort.
If the car has had the "clunk" ever since you've had it, there may have been work done previously and its then not been reshimmed properly. Although the "left" side is shimmed to a figure, the "right" side is the one that's needs to be measured to have the play corrected by adding/subtracting shims. Again you should really have a selection of shims in hand. I doubt if you can just pop down to the main dealer now and order in what you need for delivery in a day or two. I think they should be able to get them though, fingers crossed. There's a chart in Haynes for making up the shim pack. You'll need a dial gauge to measure the play and a micrometer to measure the shims. I think that they have the thickness etched on them but rust tends to obliterate that. If you measure the play correctly you might get the get the correct set of shims together the first time you try. Unfortunately you have to take it all apart again if you don't, but a one time correction is a result. Best not to say "that'll do", and I hope your garage, if they do it, do it right.
I've put right and left in commas as I need it confirmed that "right" is UK offside/driver's side.

Good luck with the job.

[Giovanni]

Many thanks for your replies.
Are the bearings easy enough to remove from the shaft/axle. Is there any danger of causing damage if I drive the car or should I leave it parked until I organise a repair.

Regards

giovanni

[Derek UK]

It sounds as if you've been driving it for a while with the play as it is. If I was putting it into a garage "soon" I'd probably keep on driving it, but take it a bit easy. Talk to your garage. Make sure all the parts are available if needed. If you need bearings and Brookhouse, or a supplier of your or the garages choice, have them on the shelf, you won't have to wait while some are found.
Bearings really need to be pressed on and off. Again, ask your garage. They might not have a press and so sent them "around the corner" to another one.
Shimming isn't a job that's done very often now but hopefully there's someone at the garage who's been in the trade a while.

[Giovanni]

Many thanks, I will book it in asap and order bearings and shims.
How long should this job normally take, so I can work out an approx price for labour.

Regards

[Derek UK]

Diving into some flat rate times green books, not necessarily a good idea as the times are for "new" cars, gives times that add up to less than 4 hours to complete everything. "Everything" includes new bearings, seals and shimming. Refit and adjust brakes etc. i.e. wheels off ground to wheels back on ground again. These times were set at the time for Volvo dealers and mechanics who knew the cars, so be prepared for more hours than that.
If there's someone in the trade reading this, I know you're out there, please stick your neck out and post a ball park figure.

[dgbalfour]

My new Amazon also needs a rear wheel bearing (desperately), did we ever determine how much this would likely cost?

[222s]

My new Amazon also needs a rear wheel bearing (desperately), did we ever determine how much this would likely cost?

The bearing kits are about £50 a side.