About six months ago I had all five tires on our '63 E-Type Coupe replaced. As I was preparing to leave the shop, the manager mentioned that I had "some worn wheel bearings". That was a total surprise to me as I had not noticed any indication of that previously. Being in a hurry to leave, I failed to ask which bearings. Big mistake.

I had no symptoms of the problem on my drive home on the freeway but later while driving on a rural road the front wheels began to wobble (for lack of a better word). Heavy braking caused the problem to cease.

With the front wheels removed I have measured the hub float with a dial-indicator and it seems to be within tolerance although I wonder whether an accurate measurement can be made with the caliper assembly in place.

Any ideas as to why this problem suddenly appeared and how it may be corrected?

Thanks.

Submitted by tvtom@sbcglobal.net on Wed, 04/14/2010 - 12:46

Tom
Yes I suppose it could be balance although all were balanced at the installation of the new tires.

At any particular speed, the wobble seems to be triggered by an irregular spot in the road. I'll have to wait for an opportunity for more road testing.

Thanks,

Submitted by tvtom@sbcglobal.net on Tue, 04/13/2010 - 20:47

Hi Tom, I go by both Billy and Tom. :-)

No I didn't try transferring the wheels between front and back. This was a driveway / shade tree operation and the weather turned bad (even in CA) before I had completed my tests.

The steering wheel seems to react to the same degree as I envision the wheels doing so I too think it may be in the wheels rather than in the rack & pinion. My dial-indicator should have indicated a wheel problem though, if I was operating it correctly.

I'll have another go at it soon.

Thanks,

Tom / Billy

Submitted by coventryclassi… on Tue, 04/13/2010 - 18:49

Tom, did you try swapping the tyres front to rear, to see if it makes a difference? Sounds more like a wheel or tyre problem, like George indicated.
Cheersb Tom

Submitted by tvtom@sbcglobal.net on Fri, 04/09/2010 - 12:57

Hi George--- I agree that the manager probably made his evaluation after a driving test.

I did ask them to do a grease job while the wheels were off but that would not have required a wheel removal either.

I have both a mechanical and digital dial-indicator but claim no expertise in the use of either, :-)

There are balancing weights on both wheels as follows:

L.F. outside =1.75 oz. inside= 2.0 oz. @ 180 deg. from outside wt.

R.F. outside = 1.5 oz. inside=2.5 oz. @ 180 deg. from outside wt.

Prior to removing the wheels I checked their run-out (proper term ?) by placing the digital dial-indicator shaft against the face of the rim at one end of the outside weight, zero'd the reading, and rotated the wheel approximately 180 degrees.

L.F. 000" .011" .032"@ 20 deg. .038" ,042" .004"@180 deg All readings +, I think.

R.F. .000" .003"@45 deg. .020"@150 deg. .006"@180 deg.

With the dial-indicator still positioned as above and zero'd, I then attempted to measure bearing float by pulling outward first at the top of the tire and then the bottom. L.F. total = .051" R.F. total= .069"

I'm not certain that the brake pads are retracting sufficiently to allow an accurate measurement of float.

Today I'm taking advantage of the wheel removal to allow for bleeding the front brakes. That project is being hindered by a stuck/frozen bleeder on one side. :-(

Submitted by SE98-32482CJ on Fri, 04/09/2010 - 06:41

Tom I doubt the "shop" manager removed the brakes to come to his conclusion. Just check using the Shop manual for your car--no need to remove the brakes. If the bearings are in spec I would next examine the steering rack mounts and then the tie rods and finally the steering rack itself. It sounds also like he may have had trouble with the ballance of the tires or something in the process as you indicated by not saying that you had such an issue prior. Lastly have you checked that your wheels were not damaged during the de mount--mount process and that the hubs are tight? Good luck and let us know.