I just bought a new OEM from a Ford dealership and assembled it with new inner wheel bearings (used old outer bearings). I noticed that after I put the wheel on there is a "grinding" noise in 1 spot as I spin the wheel. But if the wheel is off the rotor does not make a sound. The inner/outer sleeve were in the rotor when I purchased it. I have tightened the hub nut tightly (with socket wrench) and also tried hand tighting with no luck. I've noticed that there is a considerable amount of play with the inner wheel bearing after the seal had been seated. In between the seal and the inner bearing there is about an 1/4" gap and the entire bearing moves around freely. Is this normal? I can remember disassembling the used rotor and the same amount of room was present between the seal and the inner bearing. Is this normal? What am I missing?
Respect, Mega

 

Well the outer nut to hold the bearings in only neeeds to be hand tight. The cotter pin is used to make sure that it doesnt come out. Did you pack the bearings well?? Sometimes they come with the outer part of the bearing assembly in already, make sure you havent put in extra parts. Look at the other side and make sure thay look the same.(if all else fails)

 

Thanks for the timely response.
I did pack the bearings (with 1 bag of wheel-a-bearing grease-2.82 oz). The thing about it is that if I remove the caliper and put the wheel on (assemble the rotor):the washer, tighten adjusting nut(finger tight) with nut lock and cotter pin with lugs, their is NO 'grinding' noise. But as soon as I put the caliper back with the washer/adjusting nut/nut lock/cotter pin/lugs the "grinding" comes from the disc pad rubbing on the disc in one spot. Should I just let the brake pad wear until there is no more sound(new pads)?

 

Found out what the problem was (DOH!). It was the brake shims grinding the tire weights on the inner hub of the wheel and 'grinding' them away. So what I did was go back to (always dependable and reliable) Discount Tire.. and moved the weight further (in) towards the center hub of the wheel, so the brake shims were not 'grinding' on them any longer. Problems solved.