Front bearing install

[ghnat]

I had my mechanic install new rears, but I thought I'd try the fronts. I have read up on Clark's and have every thing ready but... I first have to remove the races.
I got a brass punch (could only find a flat tip) and gave a few whacks... nothing. Do I need to really hit hard to get them to budge? I used a 4lb hammer. Also, it is freaking cold out there, will heating the hubs up have any favorable effect?

[GostRidr]

Hey Greg,

I am sure someone with more experience will chime in but I did not like this job at all. That was one of the first jobs I took on and I was a total novice at the time (now I have advanced to a partial novice :-). I can tell you that, I did fire up the oven and got out the oven mitts. Perhaps it helped me. If its possible, I wouldn't rule it out. Good luck!

[AA_Ezra]

Pb blaster, and heat is youre freind. What i did was put the rotor on a 2x4 and used a regular hammer (heavier the better) and tapped around the race in a circular motion, and yeah you got to hit pretty hard but be careful not to scratch the walls were the race goes. I baught a set of Metal punches at Harbor Freight that would have worked better but oh well. And As Far As Reinstall goes just use the old races to seat the new races in again use a 2x4 and that's it.

BTW you will know how hard is hard enuff once you notice the race moving a little but removing it evenly is the key. If you have any more questions just let me know. Just take you're time and make a day of it and use the proper grease for the bearings

[Rasta Monsta]

Heat will make them fall out.

[Grandad#3]

Hello, The following video is by a fellow Rennlist Member. Thank you, VAN, for the great help. Go to the link below and it is in 3 parts on "DIY Wheel Bearing Change." Enjoy.

YouTube - How to change Porsche 944 front wheel bearings - part 1

Cheers,
Larry

[ghnat]

Great, thanks a lot for all the suggestions. Grandad#3, the videos make this look real easy.
Looks like I'll fire up the torch tonight!

[Grandad#3]

There is great help all over the different forums we can all learn from each other. I wish I knew how VAN was able to put it together in video format so well. The SEARCH TOOL can find almost anything.

Cheers,
Larry

[ghnat]

You know it would be cool to start a sticky in this forum on HOWTOs. I mean reading Clark's helps, but the bearing videos and other replies in this thread really helps out us novices.

[Grandad#3]

Hi Greg, I save everything that helps me in my Quick Links. I can always go back and find most of what I feel will be needed at a later date.

Cheers,
Larry

[Rasta Monsta]

Y'know, we could have a "How To" subforum. . .

Admin???

[smokin_944]

Larry, you rule!!

[ghnat]

Ok, I am such a moron...
I used an old race to help seat the new one. Well, long story short the second race is stuck... help! Any ideas? There is not much room for grip using pliers.

[AA_Ezra]

What the heck! lol It has that happen to me too I'm not 100% sure how I fixed and I will comment when I do but if memory serves corectly I slamed the whole thing against the 2x4 to loosen it or I just hit it with a mallet and screw driver from the inside lip of the race used for install and pryed it off since I didn't matter if he old race gets mangled. Or use the wooden handle from the mallet to punch out the race again and do it over

[tjbreen]

Next time, cut the old race through at one spot with a grinding wheel. This makes it into a C instead of an O, which allows the old race to be removed once it is used to seat the new one.

I made this tool after getting the first one stuck.

[ghnat]

Well, want to hear the whole story.... I bought a bearing race and seal driver kit on Sat. I got the bigger race installed no prob. I test fitted the disk for the smaller bearing (a tight fit) to a hot hub... The disk expanded and I could not get it out. I tried and tried. So today I went to my friends shop and used his manual mill and cut the disk in half; well just about, there were a few thousands left on each side. Then used an arbor press and viola! So the bearing installer I would have used got completely ruined... I'll heat the hub tomorrow and carefully use a punch. I wrapped it in tape tonight so I hopefully won't nick it...

I should have been done with this on Sat. The joys of DIY, and still being a novice! Maybe one day I'll learn.

[Bamf3000]

Not to bring up a relatively old thread. But I was trying to get out my old outer races in my front hubs tonight. I started using a punch and a hammer to get them out and I believe I scored up the hub pretty good. Does that make the entire hub useless or can something be done about it?

[Bamf3000]

no one?

[944 Ecology]

You probably need a new hub, one that is not scored. If it is scored, the race will tend to loosen up over time.

[AA_Ezra]

Pictures

[Bamf3000]

Here are some pics of reference. It doesn't look like I got where the outer race sits, but the inside is pretty jacked up. If this hub looks good, what is a better way to get these out at home to make sure I don't gouge up my hubs.