89 240 DL front wheel bearing question (245)

[grungy]

'89 240 DL wagon with something over 131K miles (odometer died before I purchased it). Automatic.

The front left wheel was wobbling and the brakes pulsed.

The wheel bearing was quite loose, the spindle nut was loose (cotter pin present) but there was no washer between the spindle nut and the outer wheel bearing. The Haynes manual (all I have) implies that there should be a washer between the nut and the bearing. I can't find any reference to a washer part or part number. The local-est dealer/parts dept said that they only sell bearing kits, not individual parts and they had no reference to the washer (and they had no kits in stock). FLAPS had nothing either.

Can someone tell me...

1) whether or not there is supposed to be a washer between the nut and bearing?

2) what the part number is and where I might find one?

3) if 1=yes, 2=no, then what the dimensions of said washer should be so that I can find an alternate source?

Opening up the RF wheel bearing didn't help - no washer there either.

There is a deep indentation worn in the bottom of each spindle nut by the bearing.

New to Volvo, not new to mechanical stuff (VWs, bicycles, space suits).

[billofdurham]

Welcome to Matthew's Volvo Site.

I was brought up with the firm idea that a thrust washer was required between the nut and the outer bearing.

I have checked each year from 1974 to 1988 and a washer is mentioned in each case. From 1989 to 1993 there is no mention of a thrust washer. VADIS does not show a washer for any year, but the kit diagram shown is the same for all cars from 1975 to 1993, so no help there.

Both FCP Groton and IPD USA have photographs of their kits, again without a thrust washer.

I am unable to find out yet what the diameter would be.

Sorry this is not of much help but perhaps someone who has done a bearing job recently will be able to give an insight.

Bill.

[grungy]

My brother was checking at a dealer in Austin, TX and their microfiche does not show a separate washer, but a washer "attached" to the nut. The nut that I have does indeed have a very large bottom surface, but I don't know for sure if that's what they mean.

With the nut tightened down finger-tight, there really isn't any clearance for adding a washer - the cotter pin holes are already aligned with the 'bottom' of the cutouts in the nut. Adding a washer of any appreciable thickness would put the cotter pin hole out of reach.

Maybe I just need to resurface the bottom of the spindle nuts that I have now so that they're flat and put it back the way that I found it.

Thanks for the reply.

[billofdurham]

After posting the reply I had a chat with a Volvo tech who said that Volvo had gone onto the nut you describe in the mid to late '80s.

Bill.