Changing Wheel Bearings

[willxs 0]

need to change the front wheel bearing and just wondering if its something i'll be able to do myself.

im not to bad with the spanners and carry out all other work myself.

 

Just wondered if someone could talk through the process of doing so and what to watch out for.

 

 

 

 

Cheers, Will

[welshpug 1,651]

yes you can dissasemble the hub carrier from the car, but if you havent got access to a Hydraulic press and a knife edge puller you wont be able to remove and replace the bearing itself.

 

best buy yourself a haynes manual

[jim21070 2]

The job is easy if....

 

You have a hydraulic press....

 

Otherwise, despite what the book of lies may tell you, you'll never get the old bearing out or the new ones in.

 

Basically, remove the hubs, strip them so they're bare, remove the enormous circlip that retains the bearings, set the hubs up in a hydraulic press and then apply about 6 or 7 tons (yes TONS) of pressure.

 

The bearing will exit stage-left with an enormous BANG (good for scaring people ). Repeat for the other half of the bearing.

 

Reverse the process to press new bearing in after giving the housing a good clean.

 

Jobs a good 'un.

 

If you have no access to a press, take the hubs and new bearings to your local Indie garage and speak nicely to them. They'll normally do it for a small number of beer tokens.

 

I repeat, totally ignore the bit in Haynes that says you can do it with a big bench vice. When the cars were new and the hubs rust-free then perhaps you might have but now. Not a chance. Don't even try. Not only will you fail but there is a real risk of injury too.

[willxs 0]

Looks like its off to the local friendly motor factors then.

 

 

Cheers guys

[pugpete1108 62 1 Cars]

nah you don't need a press i tell ya!,

i did both of mine with a large hammer and a large socket (just big enough to sit on the outer race of the bearing).

i snapped one getting it out (junk anyhow) , it is hard work but it CAN be done .

just make sure you clean up the bearing seat nd apply plenty af assembly oil to get the new one in.

alternativly just take the dissasebled hubs and bearing to a garage and have them do it , it won't be as pricey then.

good luck

[Doof 11]

Definitely a job for the garage, you can pull the hub apart to a point but getting my bearings out took 14.5 tons of force!!!

[Jonmurgie 2]

Agreed, it's far too much of a dangerous ball ache without a proper press... I did mine on the press downstairs not that long ago and even that was hard work as it's not like the hub naturally stands up straight!

 

Any garage isn't gonna charge you much as it's a fairly quick job once you know what your doing

[Rippthrough 98]

Agreed, it's far too much of a dangerous ball ache without a proper press... I did mine on the press downstairs not that long ago and even that was hard work as it's not like the hub naturally stands up straight!

 

Any garage isn't gonna charge you much as it's a fairly quick job once you know what your doing

 

 

I did my 306 ones with a couple of sockets, washers a strip or two of steel and a bloody big bolt. It took some weetabix but it worked just fine.

 

 

-Phillip

Edited September 18, 2006 by Rippthrough

[willxs 0]

well, arranged with a garage near work to drop the hub in tomorrow and he says he'll be able to get it done for me. so makes things abit easier.

 

remember garages i worked with just used a big socket and hammer. but with something like bearings, cant be bothered to break them. and for the sake of a couple of quid, its just easier.

 

 

Cheers