Replacing Wheel Hub on Front Tyre?

[Diamond Hell]

I'm in Filton and have a 12t press.

PM me if you want to get the hub pressed out of the bearing, the bearing pressed out of the upright, the new bearing pressed in and the new hub pressed in.

I'll get Beavis to quote you for the bearing and hub from Vee W Services, too - probaby cheaper than GSF et al.

[whiter_than_white]

So once I have bought the wheel bearing and hub and got a garage to press them.

What tools do I need to install the bearing and hub to the wheel and how do I do this?

Really appreciate your help

David

assuming you've already removed the old ones it's just the same process but in reverse

[AudiA8Quattro]

You could buy one like this, http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/12-Ton-Industrial-Hydraulic-Workshop-Garage-Shop-Press_W0QQitemZ130296271533QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_3?hash=item130296271533&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1683|66%3A2|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A1318

But i would only bother if you are likely to use it more than once. I've got a similar one at home, i've done quite a few bearings now. Once you've got one, everyone else wants to use it!
As for using a socket and hammer, forget it, anyone thats actually pressed a front bearing knows that it won't work!

[dj.paterson]

So once I have bought the wheel bearing and hub and got a garage to press them.

What tools do I need to install the bearing and hub to the wheel and how do I do this?

Really appreciate your help

David

assuming you've already removed the old ones it's just the same process but in reverse

I haven't removed the old ones yet. Could you please tell me how to do this and what tools are required?

Thanks

[Ben Lessani]

Remove the wheel bearing housing by undoing the bottom ball joint, track rod end, driveshaft and suspension strut.

Then use a suitable sized socket and press, push the hub out of the wheel bearing housing. Then you will see both circlips, on either side of the bearing. Using a suitable sized ring, push the bearing out the housing.

Get a bearing kit, so you have all new parts.

Get your new bearing, apply plenty of grease to the bearing outer face and the wheel bearing housing inner face, then insert the far one of the circlips back into place. Line up the bearing and press in into the wheel bearing housing until it makes contact with the circlip. Make sure you press the bearing from the outer rim. Put the second circlip back in, apply grease to the inner bearing faces and hub, then press back in.

Its child play really, should take you about 1hr per side from removal to refit.

As a sidenote, no mechanic in his right mind would hammer a bearing in or out, it would take far longer than just using a press.

[AudiA8Quattro]

Also you will need a knife edged puller to remove the inner race from the hub. Every front bearing i have done so far, the inner race always stays on the hub when pressed out off the housing. I'm amazed no-one has mentioned that yet!!
Also no mechanic would use a hammer and socket, because it just wouldn't work. Some bearings need 2 tonnes off pressure to move them, try doing that with a hammer and socket.

[Ben Lessani]

Also you will need a knife edged puller to remove the inner race from the hub. Every front bearing i have done so far, the inner race always stays on the hub when pressed out off the housing. I'm amazed no-one has mentioned that yet!!

You shouldn't need one, I've done a good few and never had to.

A lot of times, I've had the bearing collapse with the inner race still stuck to the hub shaft. But its easy to remove with a hammer and stake. A few strikes and it falls loose, without any damage at all to the shaft itself.

[AudiA8Quattro]

The ones i have done, the inner race was stuck right down the bottom off the shaft, there was no room to get anything in to drift it off, and the shell is an interference fit on the shaft, there was no way they were going to shift without a puller.
Maybe it can be done without a puller, but i'm not convinced!

[Ben Lessani]

Yep, stuck fast at the bottom, I normally use a 3 ft pointed stake and a lump hammer, a few taps (and sparks) and its easily off.

[AudiA8Quattro]

I think i'll stick with the puller method