What is the torque setting for wheel bearings?

Do Check For the Recommended Torque Procedure with no more than 15 to 20 ft. lbs. of torque while rotating the wheel to make sure the bearings are seated. The adjustment nut is then loosened 1/6 to 1/4 turn, and locked in place with a new cotter pin.

What is the front hub bearing torque specs?

The torque specifications for GM wheel hubs generally range between 107 to 225 foot-pounds, depending on the year and model.

What is the torque spec on an axle nut?

For a double nut or jam nut system, bend the lock tab or install the set screw after the outer nut is torqued to 200 ft-lbs. For one-piece spindle nut systems, torque the nut to a minimum of 300 ft-lbs.

How tight do wheel bearings need to be?

The nut on the spindle should be tightened until snug, with no side-to-side play in the hub and then backed off, about a quarter of a turn. The nut finger should be tight until the castle nut or cotter pin is used.

Do you need to torque axle nut?

Proper torque is critical for two reasons. First, it secures the axle nut so it won’t work itself loose and back off. Second, the proper torque keeps the correct load on a hub assembly needed for longer bearing life. Torque specifications can be different, even for the same hub, if it’s multiple applications.

What causes bearings to fail?

While it may seem like common sense, standard wear and tear is one of the leading causes of bearing failure. Eventually all bearings fail due to wear, however, excessive load, vibration or force can cause a bearing to wear out long before it should. Most of this excess force is caused by improper installation.

Can wheel bearings be tightened?

Once greased up and put back into place, wheel bearings need to be tightened in a very specific way. However, if the bearing is not tightened enough, the bearing will loosen itself up and the entire wheel may fall off. Needless to say, tightening a wheel bearing has to be done carefully and precisely.

What happens if you over torque axle nut?

An axle nut that is too tight will put too much preload on the hub bearings thus diminishing their life expectancy.

How important is axle nut torque?

Proper torque secures the axle nut and keeps the proper load on the hub assembly. Proper torque is critical for two reasons. First, it secures the axle nut so it won’t work itself loose and back off. Second, the proper torque keeps the correct load on a hub assembly needed for longer bearing life.