[abheekg]

Dear all
My gypsy is breaking the rear wheel axle bearing on a regular basis. Left axle bearing broke twice in 15 days while right broke once in the last month.

Even before that in the last 6 months one of the rear bearings had to be changed every 2 months.

What is the reason &how to trouble shoot this issue?

I run the Gypsy on 60% good roads,20% potholed roads and 20% on soft gravel roads.

Recently I added negative offset alloy wheels,new tyres &brake booster.

Please enlighten.

regards,
Dr. A Ghosh

[tsk1979]

Changing the offset moves the wheel center-line. If bearing center line and wheel centerline is at a distance, load increases. This is causing your wheel bearings to break.
I think the wheels you are using have a very large negative offset. In a practical vehicle, this is not recommended.
Mostly such wheels are used for show where tires bulge out of the body of the vehicle.

[speedsatya]

Its your rim that is causing the problem

[Jaggu]

^^^ I also am thinking on same lines, offset rims + really wide tyres?? What size Tyres are you running?

[abheekg]

I wish to bring to your note that I am running the same alloys as Sahanawaz aka khan sultan and I believe that he uses his vehicle in a more extreme way than I do. I also know some rallyists including shibu aka jeep captain who use similar negative offset alloys on their gypsies and run them trouble free without damaging so many bearings.

Could there be anything else that I need to check because of which I may be having this problem ?

@jaggu: I am running new stock 195 size nylon tyres on these alloys.

[Jaggu]

Oh ok, we were under the impression that it was something with bigger offset. Have you checked the axle, axle tube? Does it have any bents?

[abheekg]

@jaggu: the axles have been checked on lathe and they are ok. Also no apparent bend to the differential tube.

What is a sure shot and technivally proper way of checking for bent tube ?

[tsk1979]

Well Khan's gypsy is SPOA, which can mean different loading on the bearings etc., So you cannot conclude that same alloys on Khan's gypsy will have the same loading characteristics as they do on your gypsy

[Jaggu]

Originally Posted by abheekg

What is a sure shot and technivally proper way of checking for bent tube ?

Take it to a lathe, they will be able to help determine if there are any bents. Which bearings are you using, as in OE ones?

What are the symptoms you are getting, when the bearings are getting busted?

Originally Posted by tsk1979

Well Khan's gypsy is SPOA, which can mean different loading on the bearings etc., So you cannot conclude that same alloys on Khan's gypsy will have the same loading characteristics as they do on your gypsy

Khan's is not a major offset iirc, and he has 1 inch spacers on top of it.

[abheekg]

@tsk : i used khan's gypsy just as an example. I would love to hear about his experience with bearing trouble if any.

@jaggu: The problem starts with a "kich kich kich kich" squeak initially , goes on to becoming a intermittent grinding sound and finally the grinding sound persists and becomes a steady heavy noise which is a mix of the grinding noise and sometimes a high pitched sound.

If the steering wheel is turned to right sometimes not always the sound disappears only to reappear a moment later.

[ex670c]

Hi Doc.

Does the Axle have a C-Clip/Circlip, which holds it in place in the Differential Carrier?

Check the splined end for a circular indentation on the splines, where the C-Clip seats.

Also check the Bearing pre-load for the Axles (Suzuki Wksp manual).

Please confirm the quality of the Bearing and also make sure they are not over packed with grease while fitting, please check the condition of the Axle Retainer Plate.

Regards,

Arka

[SS-Traveller]

Hmm... The Doc and the Bearing-eating Gypsy. Diet: 1 bearing a fortnight.

My musings:

Wheel offset / wider tyres don't eat bearings so fast.

Likely cause 1: Bent/eccentric axle shaft. Already checked on lathe, but is that good enough? Is the bearing collar on the axle undamaged? Might cause the bearing to seat improperly.
Likely cause 2: Damaged axle housing/tube, leaving the bearing loose (not a snug fit) when installed - damaged during a previous removal? Might need lathework or a new axle tube. Is the axle tube itself true? Any history of heavy impact to the axle tube recently?
Likely cause 3: What Arka says - bearing-retaining circlip/retainer collar not doing its job - not locking the bearing in properly. Was the circlip replaced with new when a new bearing was put in? Maybe grease overpacking, maybe spurious bearing - not surprising, considering that over 80% of the bearings market in the country is spurious.
Likely cause 4: Diff-end bearing gone? Axle not rotating true as a result?

Hope this helps.

[abheekg]

Went on a test drive after changing bearing.

The grinding sound persisted. Opened the axle again. Found everything ok but the axle was not rotating freely again.

We have decided to send the rear axle housing to check for bend on lathe finally.

Please help me source:

1] rear axle housing, part num: 46510M70A00 (Rs.2600)

2] left rear axle, part num: 44221M70A00 (Rs.860)

3] complete rear differential unit with crown,pinion,axle,et all.

What will be cost of good running used parts?

regards,
Dr. A Ghosh

[khan_sultan]

I have not had any bearing issue till now (touch wood) and these days I am running 31" tyres with 2" spacers all around.

I think, as mentioned by SS_T & Arka, the issues could lie in the housing or other areas.

[abheekg]

Originally Posted by khan_sultan

I have not had any bearing issue till now (touch wood) and these days I am running 31" tyres with 2" spacers all around.

I think, as mentioned by SS_T & Arka, the issues could lie in the housing or other areas.

Hail King Khan !!
You have laid to rest one of my fears that the negative offset rims were a part of the problem.
Hope you have years of trouble free Gypsy rides. (touch wood)

regards,
Dr. A Ghosh