I can't get the outer bearing on the driver side spindle.

[Robb555]

I have a 2000 Infiniti QX4 that I recently purchased and the steering was loose. I replaced the tie-rods and bushings on the rack and pinion. This improved the steering greatly but still had some play. I noticed the wheels had some play and replace the passenger side bearings like clockwork. I proceeded to change the bearings on the driver side and the new outer bearings will not seat on the spindle. It's like they're a hair to small even though the bearings are the same as the passengers side. I can fit them on just barely enough to see the threads but I can't put on the axle nut. Is there a different size for the driver side? I'm wondering if my spindle is out of round. I went to a dismantle yard and found a compatible QX4 and removed the front driver side rotor. The outer bearing would not fit on that spindle ether. Just wondering if anyone else has run into this issue.

[Alibireason]

Hey I had the same problem with OEM bearings I had bought from Nissan. They didn't fit. I went to a junkyard and found an OEM bearing on the ground next to a Pathfinder that for some miraculous reason fit. I wrote into NICO and had a lengthy conversation about it.
topic628793.html

Hope it helps.

[Robb555]

Alibireason,I just read your March 21 post on your bearing problem and it looks just like mine. I just removed a bearing from the dismantlers to check fitment of my bearings and left it the old ones by the car. I need to go back and get the outer bearing and hopefully its good. Three possible reasons come to mind why the bearings don't fit. 1-There are different sizes for right and left. 2-The Knuckle has been replaced with a similar but not exact part. 3-my spindle is out of round or oblong and may explain why the old bearings only go on a certain way but when rotated a little will get stuck.

[Mike W.]

Hey I had the same problem with OEM bearings I had bought from Nissan. They didn't fit. I went to a junkyard and found an OEM bearing on the ground next to a Pathfinder that for some miraculous reason fit. I wrote into NICO and had a lengthy conversation about it.
topic628793.html

Hope it helps.

Update:
I emailed NissanPartsDeal to ask for the ID on the alternate bearing and they said they would look into it and get back to me in 1-2 days.

Ever hear back from Nissan?

[Alibireason]

Nissan Parts Deal did get back to me saying they couldn't get me that info on bearing ID. I recall being frustrated.

[Robb555]

I believe the old bearings I removed from my QX4 and the one from the dismantlers were both Timkin, so I'm going to check the numbers to see if I can get a set of those bearings. I will be revisiting the dismantlers today. There is still the possibility that the spindle is slightly oblong, but I not sure how the hell that could happen while being protected by the rotor.

[mdmellott]

... not sure how the hell that could happen while being protected by the rotor.

Bearings get worn which loosens the preload torque on the lock nut which then allows the inner conical sleeve of the bearing to rock slightly because it no longer seats flush onto the shaft which in turn deforms the shaft. The fit-up tolerances of the precision conical shaft and bearing surfaces are extremely small so even a few tenths of one thousandth of an inch deformation wear on the shaft can cause a fitment issue with new bearings.

[Robb555]

I got the bearings off a 99 Pathfinder SE and the bearings fit perfect, although in only two positions. I would have to take the bearings off and rotate 180 degrees for them to fit back on. My reasoning for thinking the spindle is oblong. I'm cleaning the bearings in diesel and will be repacking them soon. Thank you for your input and help.

[mdmellott]

... fit perfect, although in only two positions. I would have to take the bearings off and rotate 180 degrees for them to fit back on. My reasoning for thinking the spindle is oblong.

When I last repacked my front bearings, I had a minor defect on my passenger side shaft that presented itself like this when I reinstalled the bearing. Wear defects like this may not be visually obvious unless the bearing spun on the shaft and created an noticeable mark. The fix for this can be quite simple using a precision flat-stone or a jeweler's file. I used the file on mine to lightly glide over the surface of the shaft until I noticed it catching on a high spot. This type of wear defect is often an area of shaft material displacement, causing a raised spot, which can be filed down very easily as it is typically only a few tenths of one thousandth of an inch, unless of course the bearing has spun and more filing is needed. In all cases, you only need to remove the high spots. Visible low spot scratches should be left alone. Those marks are from where the shaft material was displaced. The high spots will be at the edges of the scratch or gouge or depression caused by the bearing moving on the shaft.