How to replace your rear wheel bearings without a press
#21
Nice write up. When installing the hub you might want to secure the inner race with a socket from the underside though. I might try the slide hammer next time when removing the hub.
I used timken bearings from autozone 510003 they are prob the only brand I would use besides oem.
I cheated with a press though.
The old outer race works good to drive on the new rear seal also.
I used timken bearings from autozone 510003 they are prob the only brand I would use besides oem.
I cheated with a press though.
The old outer race works good to drive on the new rear seal also.
Make sure the water/dirt seal on the back side is perfect. Lots of rear bearings seem to go due to contaminants killing the inboard side of the bearing. At least the rear bearings don't see much brake heat compared to the fronts. If you are thinking about deleting the rear splash shields (cuts temps) now is the time to do that.
#23
The freezer and the oven is your friend. Installing old style bearing races on break drums I use to just put the drum on top of a wood stove, then you could just about drop the race in the hole. Not sure you could do that with this project but you could heat the part you want to expand and cool the part you want to shrink.. then the magic happends
#28
If you spend a lot of time on the track, you should check the back faces of the hubs for cracking as there have been cases of hubs failing inside of the lugs.
About 7 years ago I was able to get a Hub Tamer Kit off ebay for $150 and have used it on FWD, AWD and Miata rear bearings. No hammering! its like having a portable press.
About 7 years ago I was able to get a Hub Tamer Kit off ebay for $150 and have used it on FWD, AWD and Miata rear bearings. No hammering! its like having a portable press.
#32
When you replace the bearing, you replace that inner race as well, so if you left it on the hub you wouldn't be able to get it back together. I guess you could pull the matching inner race out of the new bearing and leave the old inner race on the hub, but that'd defeat the purpose.
Just do it. Assuming your axle isn't fused to your hub, it's a super easy process and everything will make sense once you have it in your hands.
#34
Great Write up and photos
Just finished it off on my 2001. I used the heat the knuckle in the oven and chill the bearing and the hub method as well, the bearing dropped right in. I got parts at Auto Zone and used the loaner tools. The front wheel drive hub puller along with their slide hammer loaner tools worked to pop the rear apart. I used the pulled off portion of the race to support under the new bearing while tapping in the hub so the force would not transfer to the bearings. I also used the old bearing on top of the hub with an old ball hitch as suggested to ensure the force always transferred evenly. I also discovered that i could catch the tip of the cold chisel in the small grove of the race to knock it off of the hub thereby not nicking the hub. I would suggest loosing the hub nut while the tire is still on and weight is on it so the axle does not turn.
#36
If your axle nut is seized, though, that may spell trouble for the hub. That's where I had trouble on mine...20 tons couldn't separate the axle and hub so I ended up with a new set.
#38
How to replace your rear wheel bearings without a press
Did this yesterday and everything was a breeze, except getting the hub back in. Electric impact made short work of the axle nut, hub wasn't seized to spline, and upright wasn't seized to LCA or the bolt. Free slide hammer/hub puller rental at Autozone worked well. Gave up on getting the inner race off the original hub and just got a new one for ~$40. Bearing dropped right in to a cleaned and heated housing. Then...pretty sure I ruined the bearing getting the hub in (left it in the freezer for a while, no joy) and I forgot the snap ring like a total dumbass. So had to pull the hub and put it back in. The play I had at the bearing is worse with the new one, despite it being nice and quiet. Fun and much easier project than I expected, I'm just too much of a dingus to get the hub in without frakking it up, apparently. Used a large socket behind the bearing while driving the hub in, but seems like it took too much force to get the job done. Never worked with bearings before so have no basis for that. If I can figure out hub install then all is well, but I'll probably have the next one pressed in and test with the spare.
That snap ring is a turd. Don't use the HF tool with changeable tips.
That snap ring is a turd. Don't use the HF tool with changeable tips.
#40
Found Diff, drive shaft, and axles from a 1999 to put on our 1993. It took 2 solid minutes of air hammering to drive that CV axle out of the hub. Then another solid minute of air hammer to drive the bearing race off the hub.
In short. I'm jealous of anyone that can do it without serious tools.
In short. I'm jealous of anyone that can do it without serious tools.