I've been noticing that when I go around a corner on Bertha, I hear brake noise, then, when I straighten out, it goes away.

I put her up on the lift and found I can grab the wheel top and bottom, and "wiggle" it a very small amount.

Is this normal or do I have a bearing problem starting?

 

Bertha has super duper tapered roller bearings. In the service manual it calls for a small degree of slack, however without digging out mine I don't recall what it is. If you can feel it that may not be good. If you spin the wheel do the bearings make any noise? If so, time to replace'em. They are not expensive.

When I shopped for front wheel bearings some years ago at a local auto parts store, the chap behind the counter took one look and told they were off a small Ford car. He was wrong, but the bearings were the same and cheap!

 

Thank you sir! I have the bearings already, but I need to find out if they fit the after market wheels NGH put on her.

Is this something I can do myself(changing the bearings), or does it require special tools?

On edit, no noise (except the brakes lightly rubbing) when I spin the wheel.

 

Yep, you can do it yourself, no special tools required. Once you take the wheel off you'll see that you can just remove the bearing with your finger.

 

You should change the races at the same time as a match IMHO That's wear you need the special tool to remove and install Then recheck your end play in the axle spacer All easy
stuff If you take the wheel to a shop it shouldn't cost much

 

Yep, I knew the bearing comes out with just a finger. It's the races i was talking about.

 

On a totally unrelated note traildog, were you on the southside of Indy by any chance last night? I swear I saw Bertha roll past me when I was filling up the old ladies SUV.

 

Not me. I didn't get out on her last night.

 

Is end play the amount the wheel will.move side to side?

If so, its corrected with spacers, or thin washers right?

 

It may be possible to drive the outer race out from the opposite side of the hub, with care, alternatively use a bearing puller.

Bertha has obviously become a fashion icon, with others copying her undeniable style!