Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. 331 Chapter 16 ∣ Wheels and Tires A hub provides a mounting place for the brake drum or brake disc and sprocket (rear wheel). On some wheels, the rear hub also serves as a mounting place for the final drive shock absorber. The hub must be strong enough to safely withstand braking, cornering, and driving loads. On ATVs and UTVs, the hub may be fitted to the spin- dle or axle and contain a similar bearing arrangement as a motorcycle, or the hub may be splined onto an axle. In these fitments, the wheel bolts onto the hub with lug nuts. See Figure 16-11. Wheel Inspection Wheels take a lot of abuse. Spokes can loosen or break, rims can become dented, and the wheel may develop run- out. These problems can affect the handling and safety of the machine. To help prevent failure, wheels should be inspected on a regular basis. To inspect the front wheel: 1. Support the machine so the front wheel is off the ground. 2. Making sure the fork is not allowed to move, grasp the front wheel and check for play or loose movement. 3. Turn the wheel and check that it rotates smoothly with no unusual noises, Figure 16-12. To inspect the rear wheel: 1. Support the machine so the rear wheel is off the ground. 2. Check for play in the wheel, wheel bearings, and swingarm pivot, Figure 16-13. 3. Turn the wheel and check that it rotates smoothly with no unusual noises. 4. If abnormal conditions are suspected, check the bearings. On vehicles with bottom link front suspension, such as some scooters, check for cracks and damage to the fork rocker arms (bottom links). Check for play in the fork rocker arm bearing section and inspect all fasteners for loose- ness, Figure 16-14. Other typical wheel inspection requirements include: • Check wheel bearings for wear. • Inspect wheel hub for cracks. • Check for broken spokes. • Check spoke tightness. • Inspect rim for dents or cracks. • Check spokes, rim, and hub on cast or stamped wheels for cracks. • Check for oil leakage around the shock dampener piston rod. Inspect the rod for scoring, wear, and peeling of the chrome plating on the working surface. • Check for looseness, cracks, and damage to the attachment points of the shock dampener assembly. Retighten nuts and bolts if necessary. Methods for removing front and rear wheels can be found in Chapter 17, Brakes. Lugs Goodheart-Willcox Publisher Figure 16-11. If an ATV’s hub is splined to the axle, the wheel is attached to the hub by lug nuts. Honda Motor Co., Ltd. Figure 16-12. Check the front wheel to make sure it rotates smoothly. Honda Motor Co., Ltd. Figure 16-13. Check the rear wheel for play and swingarm operation.