rear wheel bearing job w pics

[bltoe]

Thanks for putting the DIY together. Just finished the job and this thread along with the video posted above were very helpful!

[eur04lif3]

Thanks for this awesome DIY. Will be attempting this job in a couple weeks.

[Timp]

It took me two and a half weeks (I got busy with other things) but I finished both sides! It feels good to have saved myself the $800 in labor I was quoted to have a shop do it. I have had no mechanical experience beyond the simple projects on my 325e. The hardest thing I've done before this is was a valve adjustment. The tools I used:

Slide Hammer: To get the hub out. Both hubs came out with just a few sharp hits.

Axle Puller: See post above. This served two purposes - pushing the uber stuck half shaft out by twisting the rod that comes with it, and connecting it to the slide hammer to pull the hub off.

Bearing separator: Both hubs had the inner races stuck to them, and this proved invaluable to separate it.

Sirtools B90 Bearing Tool: You can rent this tool from some people online. I used this to get the bearing out, install the new one, and to replace the hub. It made the job go by pretty easily.

I'd say overall the job is easy, though time consuming. While I was at it I replaced the parking brake shoes, rotors, and pads. It feels good to have saved myself so much in labor costs AND to have a quieter ride. I did notice that FAG bearings are a lot harder to spin by hand than the bearing that I pulled - perhaps they just need time to break in though. Just an observation.

[burlmays9]

Got my wheel bearing out after making my own press out of washers, an all thread rod and two nuts. Though it wasn't much of a press as it was a means to allow me to beat the bearing out sans destruction of the bearing itself, made it a quick job and I'll try to share how I did it with some photos.

[burlmays9]

Just ruined the threaded end of my axle with a sledge hammer and socket...Not recommended for someone with new axle(s). The axles outer joint was on its way out anyways. Had to resort to a sledge after torching and PB blasting it twice

Probably one of the worst things to do on these cars. I would honestly rather replace my clutch again than to do this.

[Timp]

Oh, it's fully refundable. A deposit of sorts.

Sent from my Venue Pro using Board Express

[Exodus_2pt0]

$25 to rent that? Damn that's expensive.

[Timp]

FINALLY got it out. I went to Autozone and rented this tool for $25:



It was pretty hard to push out, but it finally gave way. You can see that the PB Blaster got to the splines (the rusty part is glistening in the light):

[Timp]

You need this kit. It will remove the axle and also pull it back through. It threads onto the axle and can be used as a makeshift press. Pushing the hub through the bearing while pulling the axle into the hub.

http://www.amazon.com/OTC-6298-Front.../dp/B000F5HUZ8

This would be great, really, but unfortunately I'm not in a position to buy another tool for this... What about a 3 jaw puller or a harmonic balancer puller? Does anyone have any experience using these? I can rent those tools for free.

[slammin.e28]

It was 100+ DUDE.

It was hotter than an orgy down under.

[devon.818]

wheel bearings not so bad, air hammer, nuff said

[Exodus_2pt0]

I am majorly stuck right now. For the life of me I CANNOT get the half shafts out of the hub. I have a 4 lb sledge hammer, and I've had a friend help me. We have hit a center punch so many times I have ringing in my ears. I cannot get it to budge. I remember someone mentioning they used a harmonic balancer/steering wheel puller to push it out, but I don't know how you'd do this. Does anyone have any ideas?

You need this kit. It will remove the axle and also pull it back through. It threads onto the axle and can be used as a makeshift press. Pushing the hub through the bearing while pulling the axle into the hub.

http://www.amazon.com/OTC-6298-Front.../dp/B000F5HUZ8

[Timp]

I am majorly stuck right now. For the life of me I CANNOT get the half shafts out of the hub. I have a 4 lb sledge hammer, and I've had a friend help me. We have hit a center punch so many times I have ringing in my ears. I cannot get it to budge. I remember someone mentioning they used a harmonic balancer/steering wheel puller to push it out, but I don't know how you'd do this. Does anyone have any ideas?

[gtdragon980]

ooo mee mee!! I did this once on a e30 race car and dear god, I seriously wanted to shoot myself in the face!! It took a total of 2 hrs of using a slide hammer, air hammer and torching the fuck out of it to get it to come out! Never will I do one again, at least until mine goes out!

[TimKninja]

I will chime in and say this Job Sucked total ass.

Bought my car with 254k and a bad rear wheel bearing. My Hub did NOT want to separate from the car, first attempt with an air hammer did NOTHING.

Came back the next day with a three pound sledge and fucking hammered it out. Then the HF tool didn't work well it seemed, had to air chisel out the inner race.

All in all took about 6-8 hours in a well equipped shop with air tools. -_-. If your shit starts whining and has a little play, REPLACE IT. Before it gets much worse.

Maybe it was worse because NewEnglandCar or because I have no idea how long the PO was riding around on the bad bearing.

Gotta do fronts next, anyone know how bad those are?