One side went on fine, went to put the other side hub on and the bearing popped open (separated??) because I had to take the hub back off because I forgot something.

Now, these are the old style thrust bearings (brand new mind you), what direction should they go? I've got it back together the correct (I assume) way, but now it feels fine, but the bearing don't spin easily, the hub takes quite some pressure to rotate.

Are the tapered roller bearing much better? Do they really offer an advantage?

Despite no one seeming to care , I had another go today. Pulled all bearing out of the funny hub, cleaned all parts thoroughly in petrol. Oiled said bearing and proceeded to re-build up the hub - less the bearing seal. Test fitted to the hub axel, and whoila! it was fine.

So, fitted up the bearing seal (which was a new one because I destroyed the previous one that came with the kit, or so I thought) and test fitted again. It was tight, so that meant it was the seal or something related. So, I popped the seal out, and tried the seal onto the axel by itself. Tight as a mofo!

The seal was the wrong ID. So, I used the spring from the new seal, tidied up the seal that came with the bearing kit, and test fitted again. Everything was great. So I re-packed the bearings with great and refitted. All is now good!

Got the bearings in the correct way, as I turns out I had them in the right way to begin with, but I must have got the back bearing snagged when I pulled it back off because I forgot to put in the wheel studs.

All is now good!

yep tapered are hugely better, glad you got it sorted, im about to do a front bearing soon as i get a torque wrench

we cared, but we all knew you'd figure it out by yourself....

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did I tell you that I won a trophy?