"packable" rear wheel bearings

[NotSoSlowSHO]

The ford shop manuals state that a bit of play in the wheel assembly is "okay" with good, torqued to spec wheel bearings.

How much is "okay"?

I had a rear wheel off the other night while attending to a sticky parking brake cable, and during the re-mount of the tire, I noticed a good amount (IMO) of play or wobble in the bearings. I could rock the tire back and forth (in any direction) nearly a 16th of an inch. I checked the other side and found the same results.

I have since "adjusted" the bearings according to the shop manual, but the play persists. I have no noticable grinding or resistance in the bearings, and they make no audible noises. Tires spin free.

Is this considered normal? Its kind of freaking me out!

 

[Sho-Driver]

A 1/16 of an inch is nothing to be worried about.

 

[Racer X]

Sir, what you need are some 1990+ spindles with the non-adjustable bearings. Problem solved.

Otherwise... 1/16th at the top of the tire isn't terrible. 1/16th at the top of the hub, however, is a problem. Have you tried repacking the bearings?

 

[Ishodu]

May not be the right way but when I used to do these bearings I used to snug them up until I could feel a little Resistance in spinnig the wheel, then back it off just enough so that it would spin freely.