More on end play

["Don Verity" <d.verity@xxxx>]

Hi All,
I cannot see myself how an axle could expand from heat so much that it would bind up a bearing. I have done quite a few axle bearing myself and have never seen one fail from heat build up, or show any signs of excessive heat. Mostly breakdown of the bearing race surface (outer). You would have to get an axle pretty hot to expand length wise enough to take up all the axle play. I always set up end play to less than .010 and have had no bearing failures. My G is around .005 and I drive that all over. If the bearings are well greased and the axle seals are good, you should have no problems. Remember that they are tapered bearings on those axles, and the more the end play, the more they can move up and down, putting more wear on the inner seals. Front wheel bearings are quite a lot smaller than rear ones and they could never live with .018 end play. 
300ly,
Don


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