IRS Wheel Bearing Spacer

[Marvel]

I've got a knocking from the rear and think it's the wheel bearing. I've replaced them but the outer race of the roller bearing was loose in the housing and inner race was a bit loose on the shaft. I've got a feeling the spacer has worn and is a bit short and it's not clamping up properly. Can somebody measure an unworn part so I can check mine. Thanks.

[Marc]

The bearings and inner & outer spacers are harder than the stub axle, control arm, and drum so they typically don't wear that much - unless the axle nut's not tight, allowing the hardened parts to scrub across each other, then the spacers will suffer. A visual clue is the surface of the narrow side of the outer spacer, it'll develop a lip around the edge from chafing against the bearing race.
The axial stackup isn't going to fix the outer race being loose in the housing - that'll take replacing the control arm, or at the very least shimming (thin feeler gauge, perhaps).
Similarly, a loose radial fit of the short spacers or inner races on the shaft is indicative of the shaft itself being worn. In severe instances, there'll be enough of a step that it can be felt with a fingernail, but sometimes the only visual sign is discoloration of the surface.

If a wheel bearing retainer that's too shallow is used the brake backing plate won't be pinched tightly enough and can knock against the bolts. Also check that the control arm pivot bolt is still present and tight. Loose shock absorber bolt sleeves (and bad shocks themselves) can quickly be ruled out as a source of noise by a brief run with the shocks removed.

[Ol'fogasaurus]

^^^^

What he said.

Double check the torque on the stub axle/drum nut. I found that the long spacer in between the inner and outer spacer is what wears as it is softer.

[Marvel]

Thanks for the info. Looks like I've got some checking to do.