3rd Hub Bearing in 6 monoths

[tapdeznutz]

i need help as i dont know if i am doing something majorly wrong here. on i have 1990 hatch and went from 4 to 5 lug with j30 fronts with Auto Zone Duralast bearings. passenger side as been installed and working fine no complaints since September 2011. Driver's side bearing has been replaced 3 times now and i need to change it out again because it is wearing my tire on the outside shoulder, makes associated noises at freeway speeds.

also and i am not sure if its associated or not but when the front drivers side tire go over cracks in the road at any speed and even before the bearing started going out, it would jerk the steering wheel badly. PLEASE HELP!!!

[DJ-of-E]

Did you replace the bearings only or the entire hub assembly?

[tapdeznutz]

fronts only needed the wheel bearing assembly. i even watched the guy press in the new bearings the last 2 times so i know they were done right. i am just trying to figure out if its my hub that is bad or maybe something else in the suspension causes premature wear of wear bearings, I dont know. just looking for any and all ideas. thanks

[1ZlowZ]

weird offset wheels also cause premature bearing failure.

[blessedhellrider]

Originally Posted by 1ZlowZ

weird offset wheels also cause premature bearing failure.

yep so true .i remember in the 90s the guys with daytons always had problems.

[tapdeznutz]

i am running s14 se 5 luggers. so i am hoping they are not hurting me but again i only am having continued issues with the drivers side not passengers. keep ideas coming please. i will get under the car a little later today and see if i can find anything.

[Black R]

Make sure you torque the nut to 250lbft.

I remember the guys in SCC had the same trouble with project Silvia - they finally figured out it was bc they needed to tq the nut way more.

[tapdeznutz]

Originally Posted by Black R

Make sure you torque the nut to 250lbft.

I remember the guys in SCC had the same trouble with project Silvia - they finally figured out it was bc they needed to tq the nut way more.

where they using the J30 fronts? and even when the manual calls for like 80-90lb of tq??

[fliprayzin240sx]

You tried using OEM shit yet?

[tapdeznutz]

Originally Posted by fliprayzin240sx

You tried using OEM shit yet?

well i think i still have a bit left on my 1yr warranty with these bearings so i will so that route one last time. my question is what is the negative is i over torque the axle nut over 100 lb/tq?

[towlie]

Over torquing will obviously hurt your bearings. Stretching the bolt
And compressing the bearings

Get a good torque wrench and do it according to the FSM

[MrSanchez925]

Your problem is the autozone bearings. Shit IS garbage.

[tapdeznutz]

Originally Posted by MrSanchez925

Your problem is the autozone bearings. Shit IS garbage.

i know i know but i just checked and i have 1 more month on my warranty on these current bearings so i will rock them one more time and just deal with it until they go out again i guess. i will take that advice and get a good torque wrench and probably torque it down to the minimum side if the torque numbers. i will definitely keep everyone posted on how crappy these new bearings will be lol. thanks for everyone's input thus far.

[coupesallday!]

what all did u need for the j30 front conversion?

[tapdeznutz]

Originally Posted by coupesallday!

what all did u need for the j30 front conversion?

as long as you have s13 its a bolt on affair. the wet bearings in the j30 go in the trash and s13 front sealed wheel bearing fits in j30 hub. only this is there is a retaining ring that has to be install to hold the oem j30 bearings and can not be used when the s13 wheel bearing is install as it is too tall. some have said you need to have the hubs machined for the s13 wheel bearing so that you can install the retaining ring. I did not do this as i believe that the wheel bearings will hold just fine since there is sooo much pressure needed to press them in. seriously there is TONS of pressure needed to press them in.

anyways this is my opinion and i suggest you search as i did before i did my conversion. i wanted to make sure i understood the concept etc before i went out and did the conversion and it is totally fine for me. i do not race etc just daily my car only and some spirited driving etc. i am just dealing with this continued bad bearing issue. i think maybe it was just me over torquing them, so this next time i will be torquing them down to the factory recommended minimum. good luck with your conversion.

one last thing i forgot to mention is needed is that the j30 studs/threads are about 1/4" longer then the s13 4 lug hubs. i am currently running 5mm slip on spacer and still had like 9-10 full turns of the lug nut. next i will be looking for 10mm spacers for the fronts.

[The Dude]

Timken or OEM bearings are really the only way to go. Especially if you have spacers.

[!Zar!]

How much are you spending to get the wheel bearing pressed in and out?

Eventually you would have just saved money in the long run by purchasing OEM.

[tapdeznutz]

Originally Posted by !Zar!

How much are you spending to get the wheel bearing pressed in and out?

Eventually you would have just saved money in the long run by purchasing OEM.

$30 every go around plus the hassle of installing the 4 lug hub and running the spare tire for about a week, priceless.

[!Zar!]

Originally Posted by tapdeznutz

$30 every go around plus the hassle of installing the 4 lug hub and running the spare tire for about a week, priceless.

So what have we learned from this lesson?

[vehicle336]

If your inside LF tire is getting chewed up it could also be your toe settings. Might not hurt to get the alignment done especially since you've torn everything apart multiple times.

[tapdeznutz]

Originally Posted by vehicle336

If your inside LF tire is getting chewed up it could also be your toe settings. Might not hurt to get the alignment done especially since you've torn everything apart multiple times.

its the outside shoulder that is being worn badly not inside.

[OgSilviaSkywalker]

kind of sounds like a bad alignment or loose arms/knuckle/steering rack considering the bumpsteer and tire wear. hope you figure it out soon

[kennedy8383]

Originally Posted by tapdeznutz

i need help as i dont know if i am doing something majorly wrong here. on i have 1990 hatch and went from 4 to 5 lug with j30 fronts with Auto Zone Duralast bearings. passenger side as been installed and working fine no complaints since September 2011. Driver's side bearing has been replaced 3 times now and i need to change it out again because it is wearing my tire on the outside shoulder, makes associated noises at freeway speeds.

also and i am not sure if its associated or not but when the front drivers side tire go over cracks in the road at any speed and even before the bearing started going out, it would jerk the steering wheel badly. PLEASE HELP!!!

I don't think the wheel bearing might be the problem. It probably suspension or alignment problem. Check those out.

[DreamN]

Majority of Duralast bearings are made from Timken. Typically even the China made stuff doesn't go out that quick.

I would take the advice others have mentioned about checking other areas of your suspension setup and having your alignment checked as well.

[xh3nry]

Insanity is doing something over and over expecting different results. Get your alignment. If that doesn't solve it then go with the oem bearings. If that doesnt solve it then inspect your suspension for defects. C'mon man, can't be rocking autozone crap.

[pallnet]

Sir
Have the retaining rings cut for the S13 bearings. Retaining rings are cut for a reason, that's why they are there for the J30 bearing. I have cut about 20 sets for myself and others. It can be done on a lathe in about an hour.
pallnet

[tapdeznutz]

Originally Posted by pallnet

Sir
Have the retaining rings cut for the S13 bearings. Retaining rings are cut for a reason, that's why they are there for the J30 bearing. I have cut about 20 sets for myself and others. It can be done on a lathe in about an hour.
pallnet

agreed but my passenger side is flawless without the cut out. But yes i am going to have it cut out for this one since its already out.