Rear Axle Play

I think a small amount of play isn't something to fret over, as long as you're not planing to go racing or take some high G corners.

BUT you definitley need to keep an eye on it..cause it WILL get worse the more you drive.

Thanks JK, but isn't there always going to be some play in the inner race to bearing even after a few 100 miles? No matter how tight you tork down on the nut or how much of a press fit you have on the axle to bearing race the lateral force on the bearings will cause some play over time even on a track car. I'm just wondering if there is an exceptable amount that could be measured at the rotor.

Steve

quote:

Originally posted by Pooky:
Thanks JK, but isn't there always going to be some play in the inner race to bearing even after a few 100 miles? No matter how tight you tork down on the nut or how much of a press fit you have on the axle to bearing race the lateral force on the bearings will cause some play over time even on a track car. I'm just wondering if there is an exceptable amount that could be measured at the rotor.

Steve

You're right Steve. If you're running stock axles you will have "some" play. Reason for this is the stock axles were undersized from the factory. Aftermarket axles correct this poor design from the factory.

Josh

The real question is JK, is there play in the barrings themselves? Over time I would think there would be some play developed in the barrings themselves do to lateral force. I had the axles plated and the bearings were a pressed fit 2000 miles ago and can feel ever so slightly a small amount of play at the rear tires. If the barrings are torked down properly the spacer should be forced against the axle to barring race keeping it from rotating on the axle which is what cuts into it. I would think unless the tork wasn't correct there would be no way for the race to spin on the axle. I did notice on a spare axle that the spacer was a tight fit, if the barring spacer isn't properly fitted to the axle it could reduce the preload on the barring race. The race to axle must be stationary to the axle and race to keep it from spinning on the axle. It would seem to me the real problem would be a loosening of the spacer to the race is also the issue. I must be missing something here since I know this has been figured out by greater minds than mine.

Again thanks for discussing this,

Steve

Hi Steve,
I can only go with my experience in changing out the axles. With my stock axes I had a small amount of play that progressively got worse the more I drove the car. In the end I had enough movement that I stopped driving the car for fear of a rear wheel flying off!!

After I went with aftermarket axles and new bearings, I had no play whatsoever after the install.

Josh