Front Wheel Bearing Replacement

[Moke81]

Hi, I was getting some howling from the right front wheel. I pulled the rotor to check the bearings. Inner bearing looked good plenty of grease, bearing and race where in good shape. The outer bearing was not very good, rollers were dark and so was the race.
Question is on how do I remove the race?
Can I use some heat on it and punch it out?
Does it need to be pressed off and on?
What way worked best for you?

Thank you

Barclay
_______________
1981SC Coupe

[James Brown]

I just used a punch and taped them out and replaced them in reverse. The same way I have been doing it for the past 30 years but, some people didn't like that so I received 4-5 other ways to do it that were vastly superior to my method. Get a Bentley and follow there recommended procedures.

[Moke81]

Thanks for the response, I failed to mention that these are not the stock rotors they don't have the slots that the Bentley refers too.

Barclay

[Vintage914Racer]

I've heard that some people mig weld a bead on the race that shrinks it and it falls right out. I'm a sloppy welder so didn't bother with this option since my rotors have the slots.

[Rot 911]

I use a punch just like Mr. Brown does. Never had a problem in all the years I have removed races.

[Moke81]

Thank you all for your help, I put a little heat on the race and it finally came out.

Barclay

[47silver]

I just replaced mine.
Heat them up before you replace them to 250 degrees or you can damage the hubs.
Freeze the races.
Buy a bearing tool at napa.
The races will go in nicely,, do not pound them in without heating the hubs.

[rusnak]

Originally Posted by Moke81

Thank you all for your help, I put a little heat on the race and it finally came out.

Barclay

If you're removing the race, don't heat it because it'll expand. Try either heating the hub or using a larger steel punch (5/16ths of an inch dia). Make sure it's a high quality one because a cheap one will shatter.

Walk the race straight on out. You only have to move it about a half inch or less before the hub releases the race and it's out.

I think heating the hub on assembly is a good idea, but I can see someone heating the hub either too much or unevenly, and damaging their hub. Maybe a saver recommendation to the DIYer is to use light oil on the race, then driving it in with a race installation tool.

[Moke81]

Taking a closer look at the hub looks like I put some small gouges in it. Can I use some emery cloth to smooth them out?

Barclay

[rusnak]

The race seat area needs to be free of burrs. Did you get the race going sideways on removal?
If you can get a pic posted you might get better responses.

[Moke81]

No, I went around the race with a punch starting at the twelve o'clock postion then six and so on after applying heat

[rusnak]

You would probably not be able to make a gouge from the punch, since the race is pushed out from the back side. I think a pic would help, but you can try emery cloth. You want the race to seat squarely into the hub. I like a hydraulic press for this reason.

[Zeke]

You'd have to really butcher the inner hub to not be able to install a new race. Just put it in.

Next time use a much larger metal dowel to punch the race out. Larger diameter means less scratches and certainly not gouges.

[Moke81]

Looking at the gouge I think if I use some emery cloth on it it be fine. I don't think I'll make it out of round or anything.

[burgermeister]

Also, most auto parts stores can press the bearing race in for a nominal charge ($5 usually). If you don't have a press, it's worth the money IMO.

[47silver]

everything I read indicates that the bearing fit is so close that to press it in without heating the hub and freezing the race overnight may cause stress fractures in the hub.
use an oven after you clean the hub thoroughly.
Heat the hub to 250
and then tap out the race
reheat it to 250 and then press in the races
It is not difficult to do.
Dont heat above 250 and from what i read you should be fine.
.

[rusnak]

Also, there is an inexpensive tool for re-installing bearing races.It has aluminum discs that fit inside the race snugly. Start by tapping the race in slowly with a hammer, making sure it goes in squarely. Don't tap on the race with the punch used for removal.

[jimrs2000]

Use a brass punch and not a steel one and you have no problems.

[Moke81]

My wife is going to love me if she sees the hub in the oven
How long at 250 deg.?

[Classic]

Freeze the race for a day or so, and heat your hub for about 30 min, get some welding/oven gloves, make sure it's nice and square and it will slide straight in.