Hello all,

My name is Marc Ingham, this is my first time posting here, so I thought I would introduce myself first. I have been on DiscoWeb a bit in the past, and have lurked here some too, but I was too lazy to register until now. I am nowhere near as proficient in mechanical matters as most of you seem to be, but I am learning. I hadn't done much more than change the oil in a car before I got my Rover, but I promised myself when I got it that I would learn to take care of it myself. I have done a good bit on it since then and have learned a lot, but I still have questions every time I start a new job. My latest:

I just replaced the front wheel bearings on my 95 Discovery. Everything went fine except the replacement lock washer that I ordered (the one that fits between the 2 hub nuts) has arrived and it is the wrong one. Apparently they switched washer types between 96-97 model years. Mine was about 1mm thick and folded a lip over each washer (FTC3179). The ones I recieved in the mail are indicated in my shop manual for years 1997 and on (FTC5241).

The ones I recieved are about 3mm thick and a good bit larger diameter. They are way too thick to bend over the hub nuts. My question is: given that nothing else in the hub changed between these model years, why not just use these thicker washers?

Will it really matter if I dont bend them over? (I know why they were bent over, but apparently the new ones were not meant to bend - too thick)
Is one design superior to the other, if so, why?

The vendor has shipped me the correct part, but I am tempted to use the newer washer. Any comments?

Thanks
Marc

How do they lock if they don't bend? I usually use my old ones one or two times, just careful when taking them on and off. After that they are usually in need of being replaced.

Johnathan

not sure how they lock, but I can't imagine they are meant to be bent, they are about 3mm thick.

while we are discussing it, what is the best tool/technique for bending the old style washers? I used a large screwdriver and chewed mine up pretty good.

chisel hammer

2.5lb ball peen hammer man.....

You won't hurt it, and it won't scream.

j

What has happened is you're trying to bend the washer that goes between the nut and outer bearing. FTC5241 goes between the nut and outer bearing it's not one of the lock washers. FTC3179 is still the right part you need to lock them down. I hope you haven't yet tried to bend those thick spacers over.

Doh!!!!

I forgot about that. I bet the parts guy was just out of the lock washer, and gave him an extra set of the spacer/washer....

j

Fire ahead and use the old one. Flatten it as best you can before you re-install it.

You can change it when you get the new ones. Buy 'em 6 at a time. These things seem to go out in sympathy!

Merv.

well, I am afraid I may have confused things by typing the wrong part number. Also, not trying to say you are wrong, Fear Factory, but now that I have the parts catalog in front of me, it looks like you may have mixed them up too.

according to the parts catalog:

FTC3185 - "washer key" up to 1997 ( the original fold over washer) goes between the hub nuts

FTC5241 - "washer key" 1997 and on (a much thicker certainly unbendable washer ) goes between hub nuts and replaces FTC3185

FTC3179 - "washer lock" goes between hub nut and outer bearing (In my original post I mistakenly used this number to refer to the original, bendable washer)

sorry for the confusion, but I am still wondering why the switch to the thicker, wider OD washer. anyone care to help me out?

Well my parts book shows Washer stub axle as being either FTC3185 or later FTC5241 going in between the nut and bearing, not the ben dover washer. Washer lock is FTC3179 and has no notes concerning years. This is the US defender parts book. As to why the different part numbers depending on year I do not know.

Yep, Fear, that is what my book says too, I just screwed it up in my original post. Anyway, I have one of the later washers (FTC5241), and this thing is friggin thick, like 2-3mm.

is it safe to use it? No way it is gonna bend without some serious persuasion.

I would say definately not. If you're in a pinch reuse the old one by laying it on some flat concrete with a steel plate on top and hit it with a hammer. This will flatten it out pretty well. I don't see how one could bend one of those thick sumbitches over in the space allowed!

there are only 2 types of lockwasher, they have one with a small 'tag' on it, that lines up with a groove cut in the stub axle, and the other type (used more on rangerover axles) that have a 'flat' on the inside of the washer, that corresponds with a large (like 3/4" wide) flat area on the stub axle.

that's the only 2 that have ever been fitted here in the UK. and they're certainly not 3mm thick,that's the one that goes between the outer wheel bearing and the first 'locknut' (well, the first nut...the one you turn to adjust the bearing backlash, isn't the locknut, the outer one does all the locking! but we all knew that!)

Jamie