Changing front wheel bearing thread
- Thread starter SLEDNECK
- Start date
Ol'89r
LIFETIME SPONSOR
- Jan 27, 2000
- 6,961
- 45
Dont remember the thread but, changing your wheel bearings is pretty easy.
Be sure to heat the hub with a torch. You can buy an inexpensive propane or butane torch set-up from your local hardware store. Heat the hub to remove them and also to replace them.
Remove the seals by prying them out with a screwdriver or punch. Make sure there are not any circlips holding the wheel bearings in the hub. If there are, remove them.
Heat the hub with your torch until you can sizzle a drop of water or spit on the hub. Be careful not to overheat it since aluminum melts at a fairly low temp.
Take a long drift or punch and drive the bearings out from the other side of the hub. Work the center spacer around until you can catch the lip of the inner bearing race with your drift and drive the bearing out. Use a circular motion around the bearing so it comes out evenly. Then, remove the center spacer and drive the bearing on the other side out.
If your new bearings are sealed on both sides, remove the rubber seal from one side and pack the bearing with a good quality of waterproof grease. New bearings come with very little grease. Heat the hub again and using a socket on THE OUTSIDE BEARING RACE, drive the bearing into the hub. If you heat the hub enough, the bearing should drop in. Never push against the inside bearing race or it could damage your new bearing. Install the center spacer and install the bearing in the other side using the same proceedure. Slipping the axle inside the bearings and spacer will help align the bearings and spacer.
Replace any circlips and install new seals using the socket to drive the seal in. Pack your new seals with grease to help them seal out water.
Good luck.
Be sure to heat the hub with a torch. You can buy an inexpensive propane or butane torch set-up from your local hardware store. Heat the hub to remove them and also to replace them.
Remove the seals by prying them out with a screwdriver or punch. Make sure there are not any circlips holding the wheel bearings in the hub. If there are, remove them.
Heat the hub with your torch until you can sizzle a drop of water or spit on the hub. Be careful not to overheat it since aluminum melts at a fairly low temp.
Take a long drift or punch and drive the bearings out from the other side of the hub. Work the center spacer around until you can catch the lip of the inner bearing race with your drift and drive the bearing out. Use a circular motion around the bearing so it comes out evenly. Then, remove the center spacer and drive the bearing on the other side out.
If your new bearings are sealed on both sides, remove the rubber seal from one side and pack the bearing with a good quality of waterproof grease. New bearings come with very little grease. Heat the hub again and using a socket on THE OUTSIDE BEARING RACE, drive the bearing into the hub. If you heat the hub enough, the bearing should drop in. Never push against the inside bearing race or it could damage your new bearing. Install the center spacer and install the bearing in the other side using the same proceedure. Slipping the axle inside the bearings and spacer will help align the bearings and spacer.
Replace any circlips and install new seals using the socket to drive the seal in. Pack your new seals with grease to help them seal out water.
Good luck.
