Front wheel bearing hub seal question

Stevehose

Stevehose

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I am putting on new front rotors, I have removed them and separated the hub from the old rotor. I replaced the wheel bearings not too long ago, but I noticed the inner bearing is loose in both hubs between it's race and the shaft seal. Should this be held tight in its race by the shaft seal or is it held in when installed? Currently the seal is flush with the inside edge of the hub, to hold the bearing in it would require pushing it deeper into the hub but I am not sure it would then fit far enough on the spindle to do its job. Where should the shaft seal be? What say the experts? Thanks.
 
The bearing is held in place when you install it, not by the seal.
 
Ok so I came upon this in the Autobooks manual, it says to use the seal to retain the inner bearing, does it matter?

Bearing.png
 
"Retain" just means not fall on the ground. It is not held tightly against the race by the seal. If it did, the rubbing would wreck the seal.
 
Hi Steve, My first job out of high school and then during college recess was at an ind. BMW shop in Greenwich, CT. My main job was wheel bearings, shocks and struts so I'm fairly well versed with the wheel bearing stuff. The rear grease seal is just that, when it fits into the hub it can be flush or slightly recessed that really does not matter because the metal part of the seal has no pressure on it. The "seal" takes place between the sides of the hub-where it pressed in and around the flat part of the spindle on the inner part of the seal (rubber). The bearing is held against the race and the flat part of the spindle and tightened using the outer nut so I think you have it right and should not worry. The more critical part is the tightening of the nut. There is some "seating" of the new assembly so I usually tighten the outer nut just past the retaining hole and then back it out just a fraction of a turn, about 1/32. Some mechanics say more but if you do then the wheel bearing will have play in it after a few miles. Hope that helps.
 
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