Access to front wheel bearings. HOW?

[on-ramp]

How do you get access to front wheel bearings for service? i need to disassemble and lubricate.

Do you need to take the calipers off the rotor? How?

thanks.

[Rot 911]

Remove front wheel, remove caliper, remove pinch nut (loosen allen bolt) and washer. Remove hub.

[on-ramp]

does the caliper come off easily or do i have to bend a hydraulic line? it's a 83 sc. thanks.

[Rot 911]

Well if the caliper bolts and the connection between the short hard line coming off the caliper and the rubber brake line aren't corroded then they should come off easily. I would spray the bolts and brake line connections with some PB Blaster a couple of days before attempting to remove.

[john walker's workshop]

disconnect the line at the junction of the metal and rubber line, and plug the drooling rubber hose with a small pointed awl type tool. then bleed them when it's back together. the metal line is too short to allow the caliper to slide off the rotor, like on the rears.

[randywebb]

some use golf tees - if you do, be sure no paint or wood chips off in the brakes.

If you do work that does not require removal, you can carefully hang the caliper with some wire so nothing bends - have the wire near you before you start...

[Mike Bonkalski]

Edit: JW already answered.

[Rick Lee]

I did this Fri. night and supported my calipers with a coat hanger. Not in the mood to bleed again. But I'm pretty sure my wheel bearings came out without having to pull the hub off, so you should be able to do it without removing the caliper.

[jpnovak]

Rick, YOu can get to the outer bearings using your technique. the inner bearings require you to pull the hub.

The hubs should slide off the spindles easily.

Everyone else covered the other points I wanted to add.

[on-ramp]

so it's sounds like to do wheel bearings, you have know how to bleed brakes. great , one more thing i have to learn how to do.

[john walker's workshop]

fill reservoir, hang a 12" hose on the bleeder nipple, open nipple 1/2 turn, get in, pump pedal several times slowly, letting the pedal come out all the way between pumps, go back to the bleeder and close the nipple, remove hose, repeat on other side. the hose prevents any air from going back inside. easy as you could ever hope for. one person brake bleed.

[creaturecat]

J. W. - Don't you have to suspend the 12 in. hose in a container of brake fluid?

[Gunter]

When you go this far, look at some other things. Measure the thickness of the rotor in at least 5 different places because they can wear uneven. Absolute minimum thickness is 18.6mm. Check the pads and "exercise" the pistons by pushing them in. I usually take the wheel off, then use a channel lock pliers to squeeze the pads which in turn moves the pistons in. Then I use the brake pedal to move the pistons back out. I do this three times per caliper and found over the years that they don't freeze up with this method. The Bentley manual gives a good description on repacking and adjusting the bearings. I also use the channel lock pliers to get the grease cap off; grab the cap straight on and rock up and down.

[Eagledriver]

On my Carrera brakes I remove the line at the caliper. Much easier to disconnect there. If you push the brake pedal down about an inch or so and hold it there with a stick the amount of fluid leaking out of the open line will be minimal (do this before opening the line). I just put a baggy with a rubber band around the end too keep dirt out. It'll only drip a couple of drops in the time you'll have it apart.

You can easily pressure bleed the system after you are finished. Here's how: Buy a garden sprayer from wall mart with a small nipple on the end of the rubber hose. Connect the nipple to the vent hose on the brake reservoir. Pump up the pressure sprayer enough to get some pressure in the system. I use 10 to 15 pumps. bleed out an appropriate amount from each wheel cylinder that you want to bleed. Make sure the reservoir doesn't go dry during this process.

-Andy

[randywebb]

one more thing i have to learn how to do....

- true - but you need to learn anyway - it has to be done - with a flush - every 2 years.

[on-ramp]

thanks.
i haven't changed brake fluid on this car ever since i started using it as a daily driver, almost 5 years ago. i suppose it's about time.
anyway, what size is the hose to the nipple? hey, that sounds kinda kinky

[Rick Lee]

Are you kidding me? 5+ yrs. on the same brake fluid?!?!?!? Might as well put some new lines on there while you're at it. Your calipers may be wet as well. If I didn't track my car, I'd still flush the brakes twice a year. Losing your pedal when you need it will make a believer out of you.

[Jims5543]

Originally posted by on-ramp
so it's sounds like to do wheel bearings, you have know how to bleed brakes. great , one more thing i have to learn how to do.

I bleed my brakes every couple of months. (you would be amazed how nasty the front brake fluid gets) I do a total flush every year. Brake bleeding is very easy. Go to Harbor Frieght and get a suction pump brake bleeder. You hook it up to the petcock and it does all the work. 1 man brake bleeding its a wonderful thing.

With that suction pump I can bleed all 4 corners in about 10 minutes.

[john walker's workshop]

Originally posted by creaturecat
J. W. - Don't you have to suspend the 12 in. hose in a container of brake fluid?

not really, like i said, the fluid in the hose keeps any air from getting back into the caliper. the only reason you would stick the hose in a bottle of fluid is to better see any air bubbles coming out of the hose, so you know when you're done. my eyes are still good enough to see the bubbles straight from the hose.

[on-ramp]

great tips, John. I suppose a transparant hose would also make it easier to see the brake fluid in there and make sure it has bled through the caliper.