Front wheel bearings

bruni911 · 04-20-2006, 01:17 AM

Hey guy i have a77 911s are the front wheel bearings hard to replace myself?

Oh Haha · 04-20-2006, 03:59 AM

Nope. If you have one of the many service books available they are easy to do. 101 Projects for your Porsche 911 is a good choice as well as the Haynes or Bentley manual.
Another optionis to searchpast threads here on Pelican. Tons of useful tips and information for you.

Jim Smolka · 04-20-2006, 04:15 AM

Don't forget to purchase a set of wheel seals also.

Kroggers · Kroggers's Garage

Stupid question time

What are the wheel seals??

IROC · IROC's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by Kroggers
Stupid question time What are the wheel seals??

They are grease seals that get pressed (or tapped with a hammer in my case) into the inner side of the hub after replacing/repacking bearings. They are typically (always?) destroyed when you remove them, so they must be replaced.

Mike

Kroggers · Kroggers's Garage

Thank you for the education Mike

72doug2,2S · 72doug2,2S's Garage

How do you know when it's time to rebuild the bearing? If I have the car on a lift and I push/pull (perpendicular) the wheel I don't feel any movement but I can hear a faint clunk. Is this normal?

IROC · IROC's Garage

A faint "clunk" is probably normal. It seems that 911 front wheel bearings - even when adjusted correctly - seem to exhibit a little bit of movement when you push/pull on the rotor. "Little bit" is very relative, of course. Sometimes it's hard to determine exactly where the "clunk" is coming from. Sometimes it's not bearings - I've seen a little bit of play where the strut insert (shock) threads into the housing.

The true test of "when to replace" is to remove them, clean them and inspect them. As long as the bearings look good, there is no reason to replace them. Believe it or not, my car (over 30 years old now) still has the original front wheel bearings. I have repacked them numerous times, but they are original and they look OK.

Don't fix it if it ain't broke...

Mike

jjrowe · 04-20-2006, 09:51 AM

When one of mine went bad I could hear a whine when turning corners. When I replaced them there wasn't any visible damage, but the noise went away. If you hear them they are worn out, I don't know of any other way to check.

Jesse
76 911S

bigrubberjeep · 04-20-2006, 10:33 AM

What i fyou hear a slight whine when driving in a streight line?

Emission · Emission's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by bigrubberjeep
What i fyou hear a slight whine when driving in a streight line?

It could be your significant other.

bigrubberjeep · 04-20-2006, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Emission
It could be your significant other.

She's not allowed in the car, but that was danr funny though.

Yellowbird RS · 04-20-2006, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by IROC
They are grease seals that get pressed (or tapped with a hammer in my case) into the inner side of the hub after replacing/repacking bearings. They are typically (always?) destroyed when you remove them, so they must be replaced.

Mike

Mike do you know the part # of wheels seals???

thanks!

FrayAdjacent911 · 04-20-2006, 11:11 AM

Front bearings are easy to replace! Do it. Do it.

bruni911 · 04-20-2006, 12:55 PM

i have porsche 101 projects and its not in it, and i can not find it in this form on how to do it, any help thanks?

Jim Smolka · 04-20-2006, 01:08 PM

To replace the bearings:

1. Remove dust cap, kind of a pain, light taps with a hammer
2. Remove cotter pin and remove nut and washer
3. Remove outer bearing.
4. Remove rotor and hub
5. Remove dust seal and remove inner bearing
6. Clean hub assembly.
6a. Remove rotor (optional)
7. Drive out the bearing races
8. Clean hub assembly again.
9. Stick new bearing races into the freezer
10. Place hub into oven (if wife not looking) or Gas BBQ grill (low temp)
11. Remove hub once it is warm.
12. Drive the cold races into the warm hub (Use special bearing race driving tool)
13. Pack bearings
14. Install inner bearing w/lots of grease (I like Mobile One Red synthetic grease)
15. Install dust seal
16. Install rotor
17. Put hub assembly onto car
18. Install packed outer bearing use lots of grease
19. Install washer and nut
20. Washer should be still be able to move using a screw driver
21. Install new cotter pin
22. Install dust cover
23. Reject bearings after ~50 miles

This is just a quick list. Others may comment. There is a tech article on brake ducts on the PP site that covers a bunch of this stuff.

FWIW, do not use 'made in China' bearings IMHO