Breaking the rear axle nut

around 60k miles.

Now I'm worried about my 5th gen that's coming up on 80k.

 

Hmmmmm ...... sounds like maybe I should inspect my hub. I'm at almost 70k.

Jose

 

yeah I don't know if this could be a problem or not, I haven't really heard about it being a common one, but bearings and the like do need care now and again. I just wish it wasn't such a chore and undertaking to get to them. I'd be worried about wrecking them in the process of taking the axle out to inspect them, and that would leave me without a bike until I spent the time and money to replace them, which is no small job. I think I'm just going to keep riding and be super paranoid about any bearing noise coming from the rear wheel from now on.

 

My experience with my BMW says that you WILL destroy the sealed bearings when you press out the hub.

Jose

 

yeah this is why I want to avoid doing it until I have to.

There should be warning signs before it fails, but the difficulty is in distinguishing brake noise from bearing noise when turning the wheel. I might have to drop the caliper and check it now and again.

EDIT: actually, I just remembered a trick for using a socket extension to scope for sound, might just put it against the hub and turn and see what I hear.

 

Harbor freight sells the scopes for $2 when they are on sale.

Jose

 

mechanics' stethoscope (you probably already have one)