It's a FORD of course

Now here is a great hobby car.
Ideal to fill a Saturday afternoon with enough adrenalin for the rest of the week ahead.

Ford Fiesta

650 hp 
660 lb-ft torque at the wheels

0-60 in 1.9 seconds. Yes that is under two seconds.
To get an idea of this type of power and performance check this website. ZERO-60
A fast Porsche is coming in at the 3.6 to 4.00 second mark.


Don't want to be the chap on the Segway!  


Shot just south of Paris, France in Linas at l'Autodrome de Linas --Montlhéry, this 1.58 mile oval track, built in 1924, features banks as steep as 51 degrees, which is more than double the standard incline of most NASCAR ovals. Chosen by Ken for this specific reason, the ramp-like banking proved to be a unique and exciting challenge. The driving physics for the stunts performed were totally unknown until Ken attempted the maneuvers during filming.

FORD FRONT WHEEL BEARING PROBLEMS

Why do the Ford BA and BU wheel bearing always fail?
Why do they almost always have water contamination?

Check the rust flakes on the stub axle and inner cone.

There seem to be enough grease in his bearing, Did the seal allow water to ingress the bearing?

Notice that even the stub axle is contaminated. Could this water have been present when this wheel bearing was originally fitted to the vehicle?

The bearing cap has a rubber seal that should keep all water and vapor out of the bearing area.
Is this bearing cap a faulty design? No matter how expensive a bearing you fit to the vehicle, if water can ingress through the rear seal or the bearing cap, the bearing WILL FAIL.

Maybe,,, while driving in Melbourne in the rain most of the year, the bearing get's warm, then when the car cools down the moisture around the rear bearing seal or bearing cap ingresses the bearing hub and slowly the contamination begins.

Why we ask this question is because this is not the first, but rather one of many wheel bearings we have replaced on this model ford. All with the same fault and the same symptoms.

Solution :  When fitting new wheel bearing hubs, although they are pre-packed with grease , add some more especially on the side that has the seal. This seal is not designed to stop water. Also add sealant to the bearing cap, obviously it does not seal as well as intended.

Happy motoring!


Article below taken from WIKIPEDIA
Please read there article on wheel bearing, very enlightening.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wheel_bearing




Another factor to wheel bearing damage is water. This causes rusting of the bearing and contaminates the grease in the bearing cavity. Some bearing seals are not built to keep water out of these bearings. Vehicles, most especially off-roaders (with wheels frequently sunk in the mud or hub-deep water during floods), must have their bearings cleaned thoroughly. In this manner, there will be greater interval before the wheel bearings are replaced.

Enquiries regarding this type of repair are welcome.

Call or text Charlie on 0403 861 597

You are also welcome to contact us on the form below.