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MG MGA - Play in Front Disc Hub

On my 1600 Mk1 I have dismantled the drivers front brake hub to enable cleaning and repainting the suspension assembly. Before undoing the hub retaining nut I checked for any play. If I push and pull horizontally on the hub there is 0.030" of movement. I've dismantled the hub and checked the ball bearings and there's no obvious play in these.The only means of any play as far as I can see is the clearance of the shaft sleeve between the bearings.This type of assembly does not have any shimming on the sleeve as on the taper bearing type units. Can anyone please help with diagnosis or is what I describe by design?
P Draycott

I’d check the steering ball joints or otherwise your bearings are on the way out. What is the clearance like when you move in the vertical plane - bearing wear or swivel joint area wear?
Mike
Mike Ellsmore

what is the end play at the wheel rim, ie wheel rocking ?
Art Pearse

Thanks Mike/Art. There is no movement in the ball, swivel joints or rocking the wheel rim. There is a small amount of vertical lift at the hub. What I also didn't mention in my post was that the outer bearing just slid out of the hub when I removed it. Is this bearing a slide or interference fit? Could this loose fit contribute to the movement?
P Draycott

If the bearing is slightly loose in the hub then you can use bearing retainer compound to secure it. If it's very loose then the hub is worn and should be replaced. It's certainly possible to get wobble if the bearings are moving around in the hub, and it will only continue to get worse.

I the spacer were too short between the bearings then you would know it, because when you tightened the nut the bearings would bind. The spacer should be exactly the same size as the raised area of the hub that the bearings sit against. If it is too long, then this is a real problem and could certainly cause the hubs to wear as the bearings slide back and forth in them.
Steve Simmons

Is this problem only one side?
Or is it a problem at all? If the wheel does not rock on the axle then it should not affect steering.
I started out with standard clearance bearings, and I had rocking. Had to go to a tighter running clearance bearing. You can also get bearings with different "fit" in the holes.
Art Pearse

Thanks for the comments. It was play between the outer bearing and the hub. Applied bearing lock and problem solved.
P Draycott

Play was outer bearing to hub. Bearing lock applied and problem solved.
P Draycott

This thread was discussed between 14/06/2020 and 23/06/2020

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