Wheel wobble

[beasleyrl]

I need some help from the more mechanically inclined. When we put our Cyclone back in storage today, Level-up raised the wheels on one side slightly off the ground. No big deal with that - it does that occasionally when the ground is higher on one side than the other. However, as I was walking by, I showed my wife how they spin. Pretty neat huh? Well, the first 2 axles did as I expected - several complete revolutions. On the 3rd (rear) axle, the wheel would spin but I noticed it wobbled as I pushed it. I thought maybe the lug nuts weren't tight so I tried tightening them and they were all tight. So, I raised the other side off the ground. All 3 spun like normal. Is the wobble on this 1 wheel a sign of a bearing issue? If not, what else should I look at? I had the bearings repacked last December, but we do put a few miles on the rig...

 

[jnbhobe]

If you grab both sides of the tire is there any wobble??? or only when you spin it. If only when you spin it I would look at the tires first then look for a bent wheel. How far is it out of round??

 

[beasleyrl]

If you grab both sides of the tire is there any wobble??? or only when you spin it. If only when you spin it I would look at the tires first then look for a bent wheel. How far is it out of round??

Sorry. I should have been clearer on the original post. It isn't out of round. It happens when you push/pull on either side of the tire.

 

[jnbhobe]

Sorry. I should have been clearer on the original post. It isn't out of round. It happens when you push/pull on either side of the tire.

Then you should be looking for a bearing problem !! How bad is it?? May be just a little loose. But I would pull it apart if its bad just too be sure, there may be no damage at all, Better safe than broke down along the road. Not a hard job with the Level-Up

 

[beasleyrl]

Then you should be looking for a bearing problem !! How bad is it?? May be just a little loose. But I would pull it apart if its bad just too be sure, there may be no damage at all, Better safe than broke down along the road. Not a hard job with the Level-Up

Thanks. It wobbles a lot. Probably an inch or 2 push from the outside of the tire. I've never done anything personally with the bearings. Is that safe for a "lay" person to do? I don't mind getting my hands dirty but messing with the wheels scares me a little.

 

[jnbhobe]

Thanks. It wobbles a lot. Probably an inch or 2 push from the outside of the tire. I've never done anything personally with the bearings. Is that safe for a "lay" person to do? I don't mind getting my hands dirty but messing with the wheels scares me a little.

Well it sounds like an inner bearing that would mean replacing both the inner and outer bearings and seal. Not a big job to me. You would have to drive out the races and pack the new bearings and install a new seal. If you are not happy doing that I would try to find someone close to do the job. Any garage can pack the bearings they are the same as a RWD car. Just don't try to drive it very far or fast. May as well repack all the bearings at the same time!!!

 

[caissiel]

If the wheel is that loose I dought that the nut would still be tight, because a bad bearing will loosen the outer races on the inside hub bore.
A failed outer bearing will weld the inner race to the shaft. Then the nut will still be tight on the inner race.

 

[jnbhobe]

The spindle nut may not have moved at all, the locking tab probably held it in place, especially if its the inner bearing. I have one apart now that I had to torch the race off the spindle. You'll know when you start to take it apart. Beasleyrl you should probably not try it yourself find a garage close by. JON