any ideas about '70 wheel bearings?

rexav8r · 01-07-2005, 07:27 PM

Has anyone shopped @ ******** Arizona?

http://www.***************/

I'm going to do the front and rear wheel bearings soon and they seem to have good prices (SKF products too, the front seal is ElringKlinger).

Possibly more importantly: Does anybody have any good techniques (or just experience) when it comes to inserting the bearings? After heating the front hub up to 120/150, what's the easiest way to pop out the old ones. Then after re-heating to 120/150 it appears that you can just press the new ones in by hand, is that right??? I don't have a press, I haven't seen any listed anywhere, do I need one? Is it really a good idea to heat the hub?

Next for the rear. I've read different things. Since my car is a '70, do I need to drop the control arm to get at the bearing. I also read something about if the pivot bolt head is toward the trans, I gotta drop the whole eng/trans to get at the control arm... (via Haynes book.)

All inputs welcome!!

jluetjen · jluetjen's Garage

As far as the front bearings are concerned, I just put the hub in the oven to heat it up and the bearing race in the freezer. When they were both ready I just dropped the bearing in. No problem.

As far as getting the old, for that I used my big counter-top vice as press to press the old bearing out. I think I used a large socket as the insert which pushed against the bearing.

Jim Sims · 07:50 AM

Our host sells these wheel bearings and seals; it's poor form to inquire about a competitor on Pelican's BBS.

Heating the front hubs (use an oven or a hot air gun - not a torch) is helpful but the fixed races often have to be pushed out/pulled out (using a press or puller) or driven out using a brass or aluminum drift. On some of the the hubs the larger inboard fixed race cannot be pressed out as the intervening bore is smaller than the race (pressing tool won't fit through it); drifts or a puller must be used.

Installation may or may not be a "drop in" using heat to expand the hub and chilling the races in the freezer (don't get the races mixed up, keep them matched together with the rolling elements); it all depends upon the tolerances of the races and hubs. A press or "pounding" in with soft drift may be required; be sure you protect the aluminum hub. I really recommend using a shop press versus the pounding.

One can replace the rear sealed bearings with the arm in place on the car provided you have or can make the properly sized pulling/installation tools. During installation the tools must bear on the fixed (outer) race so that installation loads do not go through the rolling elements of the bearing. Heating the arm bore end and chilling the bearing is helpful for installation. The rear bearings are a press fit into the arm bore and to remove the rear bearings one has the press through the rolling elements destroying the bearings. Plan ahead; you can't install a bearing wrong and then pull it out and do it over. When reinstalling the spindle (after installing the new bearings) it must be drawn into and through the inner races of the bearings using the spindle nut and a washer plate(s). Do not hammer the inner spindle into place as this will damage the new bearing races possibly leading to premature bearing failure.

Cheers, Jim

rexav8r · 01-08-2005, 10:58 AM

Thanks both !

Jim,
You're right. I'm an A$$. Late at night, typing thoughts, with brain disengaged.

Wayne, Tom (if you're reading) my apologies!

I just ordered the stuff from here at Pelican, which I should have just done in the first place !
(Insert smiley of me feeling "sheepish" here.)

Thanks again for the thoughts.

Prost!
Richard

Eric Mckenna · 01-10-2005, 08:13 AM

Ah come on Jim..
You can't knock a fella for looking for the best price //
Asking the question here isn't bad... It's a TECH forum... selling them here would have been poor form. but asking a question isn't IMHO.
We all shop from Wayne when we can. But hey if the price is right some place else.. well then..
Rich,
I don't think you did anything wrong by asking the question...
because last time I checked this board was used to help others find deals on things ASWELL as support Wayne and the crew when you can.
I love the lowest price on an item if I can find it.. as some of us are not rolling in the cash and have to save when we can.

Eric