I recently replaced the front wheel bearings in my 2007 X -Type wagon. When I installed the whels I found that they would not turn because the disk was fouling the caliper carrier. Thinking I had done something wrong I removed the front left bearing. I also removed the large circlip for cleaning and noticed that just inboard from the circlip was a shoulder. So what is the purpose of the circlip. Without the circlip the new bearing would enter further and thus provide the bnecessary clearance between caliper carrier and disk. I cjhecked the dimensions of the recently removed bearing with the new one (SKF) and it was dimensionally identical. I carefully re-watched the U-Tube video and the mechanic said he was expecting to find a circlip on his car bur there was not one. Does anybody know whether Jaguar modified the desing to omit the circlip sometime in the X Type's history and is there any reason why I should not replace the bearings without a circlip? Any information would be appreciated
Engadian

 

Did you make sure to install the bearing in the correct orientation? That may be your issue. Otherwise, I would then have to say that the bearing was not seated fully.

 

My X type (2007) doesn’t have circlips on the front bearings.

 

Thanks for the suggestion. The bearings were definitely installed in the correct orientation and fully seated. I have now re-installed new bearings without the circlip and all clearances are now perfect. But when and why did Jaguar stop installing circlips?

 

Engadian, I never replaced the front hubs on my X-Type. So, not sure when a change like that would have happened. I can see a need for them. Granted, with how they get pressed in, I can't imagine them falling out though either.