Play N/S front wheel

[Rhothgar]

Hi all

Been a while.

S2 Xantia failed MOT on wheel bearing *DANGEROUS*

Changed it but there is still play when holding wheel at 12 and 6 o'clock and 3 and 9 o'clock.

Can't find any reference to this kind of problem on the forum. I can't be the first.

[Peter.N.]

Are you sure the play is in the bearing and not the ball joint? If the bearing is moving it could be that its not been adjusted correctly (I believe these are taper roller bearings). There always will be a small amount of play to allow the grease to circulate but it shouldn't be excessive, you will certainly feel it though.

Peter

[Rhothgar]

I am sure that there is NO play in the bearing because I've changed that.

Doubt it would be the ball joint as the play was noted on the MOT as wheel bearing excessive play and the offside ball joint was picked up.

The bearings are not tapered on Xantia S2.

[Peter.N.]

Can you not see where the movement is? Other than the bearing being loose in the housing I can't think of anything. Have you got someone to rock it while you look underneath?

Peter

[Hell Razor5543]

Silly question, but how does the wheel feel if you turn it by hand? I have once spun a wheel that had such a bad bearing it felt like it was rumbling on gravel!

[Rhothgar]

Bearings brand new Hellrazor as previous post so bearing not the issue.

Can't see where the movement is other than at the wheel. Bearing was passed out and in so no play here.

It's clear that the bearing didn't need changing after all.

[Peter.N.]

Does it move from top to bottom or side to side or both?

Peter

[Rhothgar]

Yes it does Peter. All as per original post.

[CitroJim]

How odd..

Did you change the bearing or get a garage to do it?

[Rhothgar]

I went up to my mate's garage Jim. He changed it but afterwards was as perplexed. He asked me if I had taken anything off that side in the past.

I couldn't remember.

I know two CV boots were ordered a couple of years ago.

Problem is all parts generally get attributed to the same car even though they might not have been fitted to that car.

Why, what are you thinking?

[CitroJim]

Why, what are you thinking?

Just wondering if who did the job noticed anything odd like the bearing being a too-easy fit in the hub or the stub axle too easy a fit indicating something might have been cracked or damaged... A bearing should be tight and take at least a couple of tons of pressure to seat it in the hub and the same for the stub axle.

Some things I'd check beyond the bearing...

Are the driveshaft splines OK? Again they should be a tight sliding fit in the stub axle with no play, even with no hub nut fitted..

Is the CV joint body correctly sitting on the inner bearing race face? Hub nut done up FT and a bit?

It's not being confused with P Bush or front wishbone bush wear is it? A P Bush can look good but give rise to exactly the symptoms..

Bottom swivel joint and track rod end OK are they? Both may need disconnecting to check but the person swapping the bearing should have noted any oddities with those...

It's not just a loose brake disc is it? Wheel off and using the disc as the lever and hand-hold to check for play could well give a confusing indication if the disc is not securely attached to the hub say, because its Torx retaining screws are loose or missing?

I'd love to look and see for myself as it's a real perlplexer...

Do let us know the outcome...

If all else fails, might be easier to swap the whole hub for a known good one if the fault does not give itself up easily...

[Rhothgar]

Thanks for that Jim.

What a full reply! As soon as I am in front of a PC a again, I'll give it a full answer rather than typing with two thumbs on a phone.

Thanks again.

[CitroJim]

No worries Roger Very happy to try and help here and very intrigued...

[wheeler]

Is it a Euro Car Parts wheel bearing you fitted

[Paulmi16]

or Sutton Auto Factors/Discount Autospares