01-08-12, 08:55 AM
Very odd. If any of the spacers was absent then the axle wouldn't torque up to spec so it sounds more like a bearing must have gone. On the other hand it's hard to see how a failing bearing could give axial play without being detectable by rocking the wheel.
I can only suggest taking the wheel off and checking the three bearings... a length of tapered dowel to temporarily jam into the central hole makes it easy to check for play with them in-situ.
It's certainly worth doing soon, once a bearing starts to go it gets worse very quickly... the hardened surface material is not only no longer protecting the softer underlying metal, but the ground-up bits are now an abrasive that accelerates the damage.
I can only suggest taking the wheel off and checking the three bearings... a length of tapered dowel to temporarily jam into the central hole makes it easy to check for play with them in-situ.
It's certainly worth doing soon, once a bearing starts to go it gets worse very quickly... the hardened surface material is not only no longer protecting the softer underlying metal, but the ground-up bits are now an abrasive that accelerates the damage.