The Best quality ball bearing and XKR bearings are not noted for their longevity with car mileages between 30000 and 40000 miles typically requiring front wheel bearing parts changes. Indicative signs of worn wheel bearings are the constant drone of the bearings which get worse if you turn the steering wheel and generally the rough feel when driving the car. At the first signs of a worn wheel bearing, they should be changed as soon as possible to avoid additional work (and costs) in the future.
One of the first problems to be encountered is the removal of the bottom ball joint which will be tight and often has to be cut off. Removal of the calliper and disc is usually straightforward. However, removal of the ABS rotor nut is required and this requires a special tool (rotor nut socket) to undo it without causing expensive damage. The rotor nut has a series of castellations on it for the wheel speed sensor to pick up. The sensor has to be removed which is also expensive if damaged.
With the hub off the High quality small bearing and suitably retained in a vice, the next challenge is to remove the rotor nut which requires considerable force requiring a very large torsion bar lever to move it. Once the nut is undone, two special circlips need to be removed and then the bearing has to be pressed out of it's housing. A hydraulic press is best for this and ideally a cradle to secure it. Best use you local auto engineer / garage for help here.
Refitting is the reverse of the above, but hopefully now you will have a much quieter XK8 / XKR and overall improved driving feel.
Dave Roche is a Jaguar XK8 and XKR Enthusiast focused on providing the latest news and views relating to the care and maintenance of these great cars.
Andie is his own worst enemy. By wrapping himself around the ball he prohibits himself from actively being engaged in the game he so loves.
As a matter of course I believe Single row bearing become our own worst enemies now and again - we wrap ourselves around the ball (WLS) and impede our own progress and joy in the game of living well.
Handwritten on my calendar January 2002 there are 24 frowning faces. That means for 24 of the 31 days that month I was sick (vomiting or dumping). That month was a test of will: me against my gastric bypass surgery. In hindsight I believe I engaged in self-destructive behavior to prove once and for all that WLS was a punishment and I the victim. Night after night I prepared meals with known culprits: rice, starch and sugar. Night after night I sat to the table and told my husband, "I sure hope I don't get sick tonight." And then I would deliberately eat too much to fast and rush headfirst into the bathroom to hurl. If I didn't vomit surely I would dump from creamy dairy sauces or "just this once" desserts that I ate because I deserved them; after all, victims deserve a special treat to soothe their suffering.
To myself I say, "Kaye! You cannot succeed with WLS when you wrap yourself around it. Let's Play Ball!" Now, if we could just get Andie to quit wrapping himself around the ball life would be bliss!
When discussing savings vehicles, there are many types of "holes" to choose from to stash our "hoard". Here are some of the more common savings vehicles (hoards):