E30 Passenger Front Wheel Bearing Failure

[cabman1]

So I replaced my front wheel bearings in March or April of this year (with genuine BMW parts from BavAuto) and the front passenger one has failed already. It was making a ton of noise, so I pulled the wheel/caliper/rotor and the thing is hard to turn. Any ideas of what I should check out to see if this was my fault or just a dud bearing? A few notes:

-I'm running cross-drilled brake rotors.
-The front calipers are about 4 years old. I don't think that they are sticking.
-I haven't hit anything.
-I haven't done any track driving.
-I did not use a torque wrench when tightening the hub retaining nut because mine doesn't go high enough. I did use a 3 foot extension and got them pretty darn tight.
-I didn't re-install the brake rotor retaining bolt on reassembly because they are a pain in the butt to take back out and I figured the wheel bolts would do a good enough job keeping the rotor from moving. However, I did reinstall this bolt on the driver's side and that bearing is fine.


-Carl

[moberg12]

Bavauto doesn't sell genuine BMW parts, they just charge you for qualitly parts then send the cheapest chinese parts on their shelves.

[cabman1]

Update: It now appears that the left wheel bearing is bad as well... also replaced earlier this year. My fault or theirs?

[87Cabrio89is]

Did you use new caps or reuse the existing caps? The rotor retaining nut has nothing to do with you problem.

[cabman1]

Caps... dust caps? I used new ones and new nuts. I didn't put in any extra grease.

- - - Updated - - -

I just read the Pelican Parts guide to installing the bearings. I tightened the hub nut while the wheel was on the ground and they recommend getting someone to press the brakes with the wheel off to tighten. Could that be the problem?

- - - Updated - - -

Now that I think about it, I don't think the brakes even need to be pressed since the spindle does not rotate. Maybe the bearings were pushed slightly crooked when I tightened with the wheel on the ground?

[moberg12]

Caps... dust caps? I used new ones and new nuts. I didn't put in any extra grease.

- - - Updated - - -

I just read the Pelican Parts guide to installing the bearings. I tightened the hub nut while the wheel was on the ground and they recommend getting someone to press the brakes with the wheel off to tighten. Could that be the problem?

- - - Updated - - -

Now that I think about it, I don't think the brakes even need to be pressed since the spindle does not rotate. Maybe the bearings were pushed slightly crooked when I tightened with the wheel on the ground?

It is nearly impossible to mess up while installing a front hub. The hub wouldn't push onto the spindle crooked.

It makes no difference if you torque the nut with the car in the air or with the car on the ground. What did you torque the nut to?

[cabman1]

Like I said, my torque wrench maxed out at 150 so I couldn't torque precisely. I think I got it to about 210 ft-lbs, maybe more. If anything, I think I overtorqued it, but not by a lot.

[moberg12]

I think the front axle nut is torqued to 225, I'm going from memory so I'm not 100% certain. You don't really wan't to guess on that, but I'd rather be a bit light then over torque that nut. If you put a nice cheater bar on a breaker bar then there is a pretty good possiblilty that you over torqued the nut, which resulted in premature failure of the bearing. My bigger torque wrench is about 2 feet long, and with that leverage it isn't hard to get 225ft/lbs. Add an extra foot of leverge and just going by feel I'd say you over torqued the nut. Live and learn!!

[thejlevie]

I could be wrong and really need to look up the torque, but 225ft-lb sounds low. I'm thinking more like 300ft-lb. AFAIK, short of stripping the threads there is nothing wrong with over torgue on axel/spindle nuts. The inner race of the bearing is going against a shoulder and that takes all the pressure.

In this case I'm going to say that it was the bearing choice that was the problem. BavAuto doesn't have a reputation for the best quality parts in most cases.

[moberg12]

I could be wrong and really need to look up the torque, but 225ft-lb sounds low. I'm thinking more like 300ft-lb. AFAIK, short of stripping the threads there is nothing wrong with over torgue on axel/spindle nuts. The inner race of the bearing is going against a shoulder and that takes all the pressure.

In this case I'm going to say that it was the bearing choice that was the problem. BavAuto doesn't have a reputation for the best quality parts in most cases.

My Bentley is in the shop miles away so look it up, I bet 225 is right . The rear nut torque is 160, again going from memory. I also think if you put an extra 30-40 ft/lbs or more on that nut it will lunch the bearing prematurely...I do agree with you on sub-par Bavauto parts.

Somebody with a bentley please settle this!!

[estoguy]

Bentley says it's 210. ;)

[richardodn]

The spec in the BMW shop manual
Front (Collar nut, bearing unit) 290 Nm which is ~215 lb-ft. 210 is close enough.
Front (Drive flange to axle shaft, AWD) 250 Nm which is ~185 lb-ft
Rear (Drive flange to axle shaft, collar nut lightly lubed) 200 Nm which is ~145 lb-ft

[Jeffnhiscars]

I just did my front bearings and yes, its 210lbs. I got them from the dealer who was very cost competitive with the usual online suspects and the parts guy actually had the shop pack them for me. What really made the decision easy was learning that BMW parts come with a 2 year parts AND labor warranty even if you DIY. If it goes bad and you didnt screw it up or hit anything they will replace them for you.

Note: Im sure there are stories of dealers NOT doing this but thats the deal AFAIK

[I8URM3]

Not sure if you remember but I've always run FAG bearings in my e30's, all of which see track use, and have only had 1 "premature" failure. Its a good bearing. Not sure what you got though.

[logantv]

The FAG bearings leave you with a pretty sweet gift box too

[I8URM3]

The FAG bearings leave you with a pretty sweet gift box too

:)

[moberg12]

I like the Meyle front hubs, and the price is right!