bearing wear check

[alectroll]

can anyone tell me the best way of checking for wear on my wheel bearings? sorry if that sounds a bit backward!!

[last_tuesday]

I'm no expert .... but I would have thought, like most bearings, the only way to tell if there is significant wear would be to unload the bearing , or bearings, in question ie. jack that corner of the Bongo up, and then see if you can detect any slogger in the bearings by holding the elevated wheel at top and bottom & either side and work it back and forth.

The problem with this is that a bearing would have to be really worn for you to detect anything, and, given that it is also a way of detecting wear in wishbone bushes/bearings and track rod ends, you would have to be sure that you wear confident about exactly what your were finding, should you find anything at all.

Bearings can also become brinelled, or worn in a way that can cause noise or rumbling, without necessarily manifesting itself in any 'looseness'.

There will be those around who know far better than me, particularly in relation to the Bongo. It may be worth encouraging a local one to have a poke at your bearings in exchange for the promise of strong liquor

[alectroll]

will do, just as well i've brought a bottle of absinth back from prague!!!!