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Appleby



Member Since: 03 Apr 2012
Location: Bristol
Posts: 74

United Kingdom 2002 Defender 90 Td5 CSW Epsom Green
Td5 Wheel Bearing Replacement
Morning all,

So I was advised on a recent MOT that there was play in my front wheel bearings, so I believe it has come time to replace them (saying this I had it up on axel stands last night and couldn't feel any play or roughness, strange). Still it's coming up to 90,000 miles and I don't know when the bearings were last serviced so I thought I'd use my last free weekend of the year to swap them out. However looking online at what parts I need it seems a huge number of people recommend swapping back to the two nut adjustment method rather than shims and a similar number of people say keep the current system as it has less chance of the bearing damaging the stub axel. Keeping the system seems to mean getting an assortment of shims to set the end float correctly which does seem like a bit of a pain!

So over to the good (and more knowledgeable) people of this forum! What would you do? Worth the swap? Keep what I've got and get the shims?

Thanks!
Post #480932 10th Dec 2015 8:58am
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mrdelmonti



Member Since: 08 Sep 2015
Location: South Northants
Posts: 35

United Kingdom 1999 Defender 110 Td5 CSW Portofino Red
I prefer the old two nut style and that's what I have on my TD5. It's what I've grown up with on my Land Rovers and Toyotas.

The thing I like is if I notice a wheel bearing needs adjusting I don't need to order any shims or keep any stored away I can just whip the drive flange off and tighten as required. No faff.
Post #480938 10th Dec 2015 9:17am
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Super7



Member Since: 05 Feb 2014
Location: South Bucks.
Posts: 132

United Kingdom 1999 Defender 90 Td5 CSW Rutland Red
When I replaced my wheel bearings this year I converted to the two nut system Thumbs Up
Post #480956 10th Dec 2015 10:33am
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JWL



Member Since: 26 Oct 2011
Location: Hereford
Posts: 3443

England 2002 Defender 110 Td5 SW Coniston Green
I have a parody on mine. When I bought mine I also received the full workshop history from its previous owner, Thames Valley Police and apart from a few wheel bearing adjustments there was no mention of a bearing replacement. The parody is that the nearside has the single nut minus the spacer so just acts like a traditional wheel bearing set up and the offside has the two nut arrangement as do both the rears. The peculiarity is that the bearing that gives me the most need for maintenance is the one with the two nut set up.
Post #480966 10th Dec 2015 11:28am
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blackwolf



Member Since: 03 Nov 2009
Location: South West England
Posts: 17309

United Kingdom 2007 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 DCPU Stornoway Grey
I wouldn't take a sound bearing set apart simply to change from the one-nut to the two-nut system, but would always convert to two-nut if any maintenance is needed.

There are no disadvantages whatsoever to the two-nut system, and several advantages.
Post #480967 10th Dec 2015 11:28am
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Dave-H



Member Since: 08 Feb 2011
Location: Surrey
Posts: 1507

England 2007 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 HT Tonga Green
Land rover changed it to the latest system for a reason ... Rolling Eyes
Two nut system was fine, but honestly, once set correctly a bearing doesn't need 'play' adjustment .. the play is telling you It needs replacing!

Stick with how it is .... Guns and Landrovers .... anything else is irrelevant.
Post #480968 10th Dec 2015 11:30am
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blackwolf



Member Since: 03 Nov 2009
Location: South West England
Posts: 17309

United Kingdom 2007 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 DCPU Stornoway Grey
I suspect the reason was to de-skill the assembly process and reduce production costs. It is hard to see any other reason.

In a world where you have virtually unlimited access to different sized spacers it may make sense.
Post #480979 10th Dec 2015 11:52am
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jimbob7



Member Since: 06 Jul 2013
Location: uk
Posts: 2055

Another vote for "one nut" assembly. Pov.spec,ftw. 2006, 110,TD5.
Post #481024 10th Dec 2015 3:11pm
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4RF RDS



Member Since: 19 Jul 2015
Location: Ottawa
Posts: 919

Canada 2000 Defender 110 Td5 XS CSW Epsom Green
If you do not do a lot of off road or expedition driving stick with the stock one nut setup. It is the simplest and it works fine, no loose bearing to readjust just put in a new set... 2010 Range Rover MkIII Autobiography Super Charged (Idris)
2003 Range Rover Mk III (Desmond FitzWilliam)
2000 Defender 110 CSW TD5 (CTX)
1992 Range Rover Classic (Lizzy)
1972 Series III 300 Tdi (Stanwood)
1967 MGB GT

Every normal man must be tempted at times to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin to slit throats.
H. L. Mencken (1880 - 1956)
Post #481029 10th Dec 2015 3:29pm
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yetiman45



Member Since: 22 Dec 2014
Location: Tamworth
Posts: 69

England 2005 Defender 110 Td5 CSW Blenheim Silver
Single nut systen only done as cost cutting exersize. Less parts and quicker to instal. Impossible to adjust if you're in the middle of nowhere.
Post #481253 11th Dec 2015 10:00am
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Dave-H



Member Since: 08 Feb 2011
Location: Surrey
Posts: 1507

England 2007 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 HT Tonga Green
That was the whole point of the single nut upgrade Yetiman ... nothing to do with cost cutting, It's a more reliable system.
Wheel bearings can't loosen [as often happened with old system] and need re adjusting.
Play in latest set up means bearing is worn and needs replacing ... Guns and Landrovers .... anything else is irrelevant.
Post #481257 11th Dec 2015 10:19am
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yetiman45



Member Since: 22 Dec 2014
Location: Tamworth
Posts: 69

England 2005 Defender 110 Td5 CSW Blenheim Silver
All bearings wear, but just because they have slight wear doesn't mean they're knackered and need replacing which is where the old system is superior because the wear can be adjusted out easily. Everyone has there own opinion but it seems the majority of people and all the people I've known through various clubs and organisations prefer the old method.
Post #481266 11th Dec 2015 10:47am
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blackwolf



Member Since: 03 Nov 2009
Location: South West England
Posts: 17309

United Kingdom 2007 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 DCPU Stornoway Grey
The single nut system makes sense for initial assembly and is consistent with the modern 'sealed-for-life' ethos, and lifetime dealer servicing. It makes little sense in any other situation.

It is a nuisance if you have to change the wheel-bearings since the chance of the original spacer being correct for the new bearings is small, so unless you have a selection to hand it can be difficult. There is a small risk of damaging the threads on the stub-axle when removing the stake nut. You're also likely to need a bigger wrench than for the 2 nut system.


Dave-H wrote:
Wheel bearings can't loosen [as often happened with old system...


I'm not sure at all what the basis of this suggestion. In 40 years of driving and working with Series and Defender vehicles I have never heard of a properly-adjusted two-nut wheel-bearing coming loose, and I cannot accept that it is a common occurrence.

Bottom line is that either system works and is satisfactory, it is up to the owner to make up their own mind. Assemble either system correctly (and neither is difficult) and you'll have no trouble. If you're not confident that you can set either up correctly then get someone who is competent to help.
Post #481267 11th Dec 2015 10:48am
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Dave-H



Member Since: 08 Feb 2011
Location: Surrey
Posts: 1507

England 2007 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 HT Tonga Green
I bow to your 40 years experience, I've only been doing It as my main employment for the last 27 years Bow down

Only messing Laughing We get a fair few on the earlier set up where owner has 'adjusted play' and within a week or two they have either come loose again or seized up owing to said owner not having required skill level .... Rolling Eyes

Never have a problem with later one nut set up .. if unacceptable play is detected, just stick in a new pair of bearings and fully tighten nut - job sorted.

For the record, It's also [In my/our experience] very rare to need to replace shim, current tolerances are so close that the original is almost always correct [As long as not using cheap chinese bearings lol]

Your right, everyone has their own preference and ideas ... for me It's the one nut set up rules Thumbs Up Guns and Landrovers .... anything else is irrelevant.
Post #481298 11th Dec 2015 1:53pm
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blackwolf



Member Since: 03 Nov 2009
Location: South West England
Posts: 17309

United Kingdom 2007 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 DCPU Stornoway Grey
I did qualify my comment with the words "properly adjusted"! Laughing
Post #481306 11th Dec 2015 2:25pm
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