Re: [A/S] Spindle slop question

["k9ao" <k9ao@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Point well taken Tom.

I am not sure that the average person can actually feel a thousandth
of an inch though, I can't. Even five thousandths of an inch is still
an almost imperceptable movement axially on the axle.

Here's a pictorial that shows some things to look at when installing
bearings and inspecting the ones you have now. 

http://www.saaq.gouv.qc.ca/publications/lourds/bearings.pdf

This presentation is for bigger vehicles than yours and makes
reference to oil in bearings, which is used in bigger rigs than yours
instead of grease, but it's still good reading. Especially the photos
of the worn bearings, races, and seals.

I'd still replace all of the bearings, races, and seals while I had it
apart if it were me. 

And make sure you use a torque wrench for the tightening procedure. A
couple of hundred foot-pounds of torque is awfully tight.

If you're worried about the movement, you could always have the
bearing play inspected with a dial indicator once you have things
together again, or rent one for the weekend. 

Checking the bearing running-temperature after a trial road run
following the installation (or re-installation) of the bearings is a
good idea. 

Rick Kunath