Front wheel bearing spline issue?

Wjtn · Feb 24th, 2024, 18:49

Hello, I am in the process of fitting a new front wheel bearing and I have got to the point of putting the drive shaft into the new bearing and the spline won't push into the new bearing.
So I thought ah crap it's the wrong bearing BUT, upon removing the new bearing from the knuckle I offered it up backwards, so the 5 stud wheel/brake disc side is facing towards the knuckle/ engine and it slips on like a glove but again not the way it was intended to.
I'm new to these cars so is this something very obvious, is it just the wrong bearing? Are some tapered? The parts place I bought it from did it by Reg and it all looks and seems the same as the old one.
It feels like the spline teeth are lining up in the sense that I can't twist the shaft when I push them together so will the hub nut just pull it together if I crank it in? My research on here tells me the splines are all the same? Any advice would be greatly appreciated as I need the car back on the road by Monday and I don't want to put the old one back in!
Thanks in advance,
Warwick

Luxobarge · Feb 24th, 2024, 22:54

From the factory when new, the splines were "glued" into the wheel bearing, which incidentally can make them very difficult to separate the first time they are dissembled. Unless great care has been taken, you will probably find that the splines on the driveshaft have still got a layer of glue on them, or lumps of glue here and there, which can make them stiff or awkward to re-assemble. My advice would be to make sure the splines are scrupulously clean and scrape them thoroughly with a knife blade, sharp chisel or whatever to ensure that no trace of the original "glue" remains. I had this issue doing mine, and after a thorough scrape and clean the new wheel bearing slid on no problem. They will be absolutely fine without replacing the "glue" by the way.

Or you might have a wheel bearing with the wrong number of splines, but you can check this by simply counting.

Wjtn · Feb 24th, 2024, 23:21

Thanks Luxobarge, I thought the splines were pretty clean, the glue wasn't at all noticeable, I had assumed their wasn't any on it as the shaft came out of the bearing without any fight, but I will try giving them a bit more of a going over in the morning.
It seems odd that the old bearing will slip straight back onto the shaft with no resistance and the new one will go on the shaft backwards with no resistance but then not in the intended direction.
They are the same 26 spline count, they seem an exact match

Feb 24th, 2024, 18:49	#1
Wjtn New Member Last Online: Feb 25th, 2024 08:01 Join Date: Jun 2023 Location: Carlisle	Front wheel bearing spline issue? Hello, I am in the process of fitting a new front wheel bearing and I have got to the point of putting the drive shaft into the new bearing and the spline won't push into the new bearing. So I thought ah crap it's the wrong bearing BUT, upon removing the new bearing from the knuckle I offered it up backwards, so the 5 stud wheel/brake disc side is facing towards the knuckle/ engine and it slips on like a glove but again not the way it was intended to. I'm new to these cars so is this something very obvious, is it just the wrong bearing? Are some tapered? The parts place I bought it from did it by Reg and it all looks and seems the same as the old one. It feels like the spline teeth are lining up in the sense that I can't twist the shaft when I push them together so will the hub nut just pull it together if I crank it in? My research on here tells me the splines are all the same? Any advice would be greatly appreciated as I need the car back on the road by Monday and I don't want to put the old one back in! Thanks in advance, Warwick

Feb 24th, 2024, 22:54	#2
Luxobarge Premier Member Last Online: Yesterday 09:37 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Horne (Nr. Horley)	From the factory when new, the splines were "glued" into the wheel bearing, which incidentally can make them very difficult to separate the first time they are dissembled. Unless great care has been taken, you will probably find that the splines on the driveshaft have still got a layer of glue on them, or lumps of glue here and there, which can make them stiff or awkward to re-assemble. My advice would be to make sure the splines are scrupulously clean and scrape them thoroughly with a knife blade, sharp chisel or whatever to ensure that no trace of the original "glue" remains. I had this issue doing mine, and after a thorough scrape and clean the new wheel bearing slid on no problem. They will be absolutely fine without replacing the "glue" by the way. Or you might have a wheel bearing with the wrong number of splines, but you can check this by simply counting. __________________ Some people are like Slinkies, they serve no useful purpose but they still bring a smile to your face when you push them downstairs.

Feb 24th, 2024, 23:21	#3
Wjtn New Member Last Online: Feb 25th, 2024 08:01 Join Date: Jun 2023 Location: Carlisle	Thanks Luxobarge, I thought the splines were pretty clean, the glue wasn't at all noticeable, I had assumed their wasn't any on it as the shaft came out of the bearing without any fight, but I will try giving them a bit more of a going over in the morning. It seems odd that the old bearing will slip straight back onto the shaft with no resistance and the new one will go on the shaft backwards with no resistance but then not in the intended direction. They are the same 26 spline count, they seem an exact match

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