Have any of you ever replaced the bearings in your front wheel hubs? I recently powdercoated hubs and spindle and I eplaces front wheel bearings and seals. I swear I did everything the book described and used high quality Pivot Works bearing kit. I put it all together and it spins well on my finger but when I install them on the spindle there is resistence. The resistence comes from where the rear seal sits on the spindle. From what i remember, the front wheels used to spin easily, but now the hub barely wants to spin. If I take off that rear seal and install them the hub spins smooth. Its something to do with that rear seal, whats up with that? i have no clue what i did wrong. can someone help?

 

Does it spin freely if the spindle nut isnt tight. If so, the nut may be too tight.

 

Did you pawdercoat the surface of the spindle where the bearing and seals sit??? If so that is your problem. Powdercoating has changed teh thickness of the spindle causing the seal to bind.

If this is not the case you may have installed the wrong seal.

I also put a thin skim of grease on the seal to make it seat in easier, this may help, and thech the spindle surface so that it is surgically clean and smooth too.

 

Did you put the spacer back in between the bearings?