What exactly prevents the wheel from falling off?

[emtor]

My Volvo V70 has pressed in front wheel bearings.
There is no way you can remove the bearing and hub assembly without using a hydraulic press or a special tool since considerable force is needed to get it out.
Is this the only thing that prevents the wheel from coming off?

[ShadeTek]

Originally Posted by emtor

My Volvo V70 has pressed in front wheel bearings.
There is no way you can remove the bearing and hub assembly without using a hydraulic press or a special tool since considerable force is needed to get it out.
Is this the only thing that prevents the wheel from coming off?

It is called an interference fit and relies on the tighteness of the fit to keep it in. I replaced my front wheel bearing 3 days ago and I used a sledge hammer to encourage the bearing out from the knuckle. It took a lot of blows to get it out and I sat the knuckle on top of three axle stands held together with an aerolastic. Yes you should use a press to remove, but you will need at least a 12 tonne press and for me it is not worth purchasing one when I have a sledgehammer handy. The correct tool is needed to squeeze it in which can be purchased for about £70 off eBay. Do not use this tool to remove the bearing, it is not up to it. Only use it to squeeze the new bearing in.

+ YouTube Video

[Whyman]

I always thought it was the big nut on the end of the drive shaft or the one on the stub axle not the bearing itself.

[emtor]

Originally Posted by ShadeTek

The correct tool is needed to squeeze it in which can be purchased for about £70 off eBay. Do not use this tool to remove the bearing, it is not up to it. Only use it to squeeze the new bearing in.

I removed mine a few days ago with a tool bought here in Norway which cost me quite a bit more than £70, and it removed the bearing just fine without damaging the tool.
I did cover the threaded rod with chainsaw oil and avoided using an impact wrench.
But I wouldn't count on that it would make it very far in a shop that does this job several times a week.

https://www.biltema.no/bil---mc/bilv...-mm-2000036602

[emtor]

Originally Posted by Whyman

I always thought it was the big nut on the end of the drive shaft or the one on the stub axle not the bearing itself.

So did I, until I started thinking about it.
On my Volvo it's only an M10 bolt with a large washer fastened at 35Nm+90 degrees. Thank God it's not that bolt holding the wheel in place.

[Kev0607]

Originally Posted by emtor

My Volvo V70 has pressed in front wheel bearings.
There is no way you can remove the bearing and hub assembly without using a hydraulic press or a special tool since considerable force is needed to get it out.
Is this the only thing that prevents the wheel from coming off?

The lug nuts too.

[emtor]

Originally Posted by Kev0607

The lug nuts too.

Should the bearing come loose you still have the brake caliper holding the wheel in place . . . in a fashion.

[Kev0607]

In my experience, I've come across noisy bearings on Volvo's that have zero play.

My car had around 109,000 miles on it. The nearside front wheel bearing was noisy, but if you shook the wheel when the car was jacked up, there was no movement. Same with my Dad's V70... He had a noisy bearing at 160,000 miles... zero play.

The front bearings would have to be severely worn for the wheel to come off, especially as they're "pressed in" and not the bolt-on type. Rear bearings are bolt-on, but they can be a bugger to get off as rust/dirt accumulates on the bolts over time.

[emtor]

Originally Posted by Kev0607

In my experience, I've come across noisy bearings on Volvo's that have zero play.

Same here. Very noisy bearing but no play at all.

[simboc2004]

My front nearside bearing became very noisy, with no play at all - until, suddenly, it did have play and needed urgent replacement. It's definitely a sign that all is not we'll with the bearing... And it's very annoyingly noisy. So much better with it replaced. The driver's side is still fine at 174,000 miles...