NM Wheel bearings removal???

[ducko]

how do i get the front wheel bearings off my NM??

ive taken the caliper off,the disk off,undone all the bolts and the nut on the drive shaft but it is still stuck solid.

is there a trick to this??

[gaz1]

I haven't done this job, but my understanding is that the knuckle and the hub all come off together, ie you need to undo the top and bottom balljoints and the tie rod end. The bearings are integral to the hub - can't be replaced by themselves.

Gaz

[ducko]

well im in trouble then because the new one's dont have the steering knuckle

attached they have 4 bolt's that look like they hold them on from the inside.

ive undone these bolts on my car but it wont budge

[icysyrup]

The bearings are attached to the knuckle with bolts. Those bolts need to be removed and then you will be able to seperate it. The easiest way is to completely remove the ball joints and take the knuckle off and then you will be able to get the old bearing out. I had to take a torch to the outside of the knuckle to heat it up and expand it in order to hammer out the old bearing. It can be a bit of a pain to seperate them but it is possible.

[psproule]

It can be done with the knuckle in place. Take off the caliper (tie it out of the way) & brake disc.

Pry out the hub dust cap. Undo the large nut in the centre of the hub and remove the driveshaft (you probably have to undo the bolts at the inner end of the shaft as well in order to get enough length to get it out of the hub but try it without first - might be lucky).

Undo the four bolts around the back of the hub assembly. Spray plenty of WD / CRC etc around the hub to flange join and let it sit for a while.

Drive the hub out of the steering knuckle. The last one we did took a large soft faced hammer and lots of swearing. It will be in very very tight.

Worst case is you will have to remove the knuckle and get it pressed out.

New one goes in easily, but make sure you torque the shaft nut up properly as this provides the bearing preload. Otherwise a new one will fail again. Smaer a small amount of grease on the shaft splines too.

Pat

[icysyrup]

Here are some pics of the knuckle assembled and then apart.






In the first pic i had a hard time getting the bearing out in one piece so i took it out piece by piece. Then the outer race decided not to come out so...an old timer told me to weld a bead around it and badabing.....out it popped with a light whack.

[Pete]

Just for anyone else who attempts this in the driveway and stumbles across this thread...mine were stuck as. I whacked and heated away for a while and ended up taking the stub out and down to engineers and they put over 12t of pressure and got it real hot with the oxy before it moved.

No way, no how would this have ever moved in the driveway. Both sides were just as tight.

[peter ficzere]

hi Duco

please give me the part number on your brg unit while it is in your hand...would greatly appreciated.
Peter from RSA

[mrbitchi]

Couple of numbers for you from different suppliers.

Timken HA590145

Repco RWH5090

[Pete]

I installed repco. $142ea.

The right hand side was not perfectly sealed and the nut and split pin were quite rusted. It was also a little clunky. The left was new and shiny and smooth.

[walk of shame]

It can be done with the knuckle in place.

Sorry to be raising such an old thread from the dead, but hats off to you guys here on the forum. Getting it out "in-situ" can certainly be done, and with a decent sledge hammer, it really isn't even that bad :-)

Since there was so much talk about taking it out, heat, pressing it, etc, figured I had to chime in with another success story at the very least.

[psproule]

No worries - another trick I think I have posted in another thread is to first try and spin the bearing hub in the knuckle by hitting the flange with a drift and a big hammer. This will turn it in the knuckle and break the rusty hold. Then you can start to drive it out.

Pat

[steveandviv]

Just for anyone else who attempts this in the driveway and stumbles across this thread...mine were stuck as. I whacked and heated away for a while and ended up taking the stub out and down to engineers and they put over 12t of pressure and got it real hot with the oxy before it moved.

No way, no how would this have ever moved in the driveway. Both sides were just as tight.

Mine also and took some getting out, 60 T to press out at the shop, they shattered on impact. This was after we blew the bearing just off the CREB and then had to drive Cains.

As a notes the last one I tried to get out also failed at the shop.

[dookie]

No worries - another trick I think I have posted in another thread is to first try and spin the bearing hub in the knuckle by hitting the flange with a drift and a big hammer. This will turn it in the knuckle and break the rusty hold. Then you can start to drive it out.

This is by far the easiest way for the DIYer. Once you can get it rotating the force needed to get it out of the knuckle is greatly reduced.