rear wheel bearing job w pics

[Klug]

Cliffnotes: This job sucks, but when done with the correct tools, life will be easy.

Ahh this damn job. Awesome write up, however I hit a snag. When removing the hub the bearing feel apart on me, now I am left with the outer ring of the old bearing stuck.

I have one of these that helped get the hub out.


I don't have this tool everyone is talking about, but I do not think it will help in my case. If the bearing needs to get pulled out towards you, there is no lip from the inside to pull it out that can pull the bearing out. There is a slight lip in the middle, but I don't think a washer or any plate can pass through the back side in.

This is what I have going on now, going to try chiseling it out, but I know this MF'er is going to be in there nice and tight.




Any suggestions on getting the rest of this out?


EDIT Well I caved in, ended up buying the tool everyone used from HF. The hammer tool I rented above did help, however its not going to help the the remaining job. If I just purchased the correct tool at the start, I would have done it all with that. However, I did have to buy this bearing puller too since the bearing was stuck to the hub.


$150 and 10 minutes later, I have everything off. It feels great when you have the right tools....word to the wise, buy this stuff from HF and then return it within 90 days. The checkout girl basically said "If you use it once and don't plan on using it again, we have a 90 day return" I then asked "Like a tool rental?" and she goes "No" while shaking her head YES.

[BROKINBIMMER]

Klug, which HF? If you in Philly I'm assuming you went to the one by Franklin mills mall? I need to do my rear bearings but I am reluctant to try without the right tools.

[BROKINBIMMER]

Ok, just finished swapping out one side. This job was not nearly as bad as I thought it was gonna be. The one side took 2 hours, and that's without any special tools. I thin cutting the outer race with a Dremel was the best way for removing a stuck outer race.

[Klug]

Klug, which HF? If you in Philly I'm assuming you went to the one by Franklin mills mall? I need to do my rear bearings but I am reluctant to try without the right tools.

I actually have a garage I do my work in back home in the Wilkes-barre Scranton area so there is one there.

I ended up doing the job on one side, not too bad with this tool...however went to the other side and it was an absolute nightmare. Needed a 50tn press to push out the shaft from the hub.....and broke bearing pullers and stripped the thread doing so. Finally took the whole arm off and got it pressed, replaced the arm bushings while I was in there and put it all back together.

Let me know if you need any tools, I have this bearing press, puller and a separator from HF if you need to borrow. God speed!

[///M42 sport]

soon I'll have the "official" rear bearing tool to rent out.

[///M42 sport]

Just got this... Feeler for anyone interested in renting from me. U Pay for shipping and $50 + refundable $300 upon return of tools.

[Cha Ching]

^^^I need to do this on my M Tech II, you'll be getting a PM from me soon!^^^

[bsturman92]

hey guys.. i HAVE to do this tonight on my car... i do not have another locking plate for the axle nut.. you guys think its ok for a few days?

[millsamus]

Cants get the hub off..... used the Harbour Freight tool to wedge it out but I broke the head off the lug nut bolt!!

Now I have a broken bolt stuck in my hub!!

Have to buy a tap & die set now to drill the bolt out.

Still have to worry about getting the hub off..... trying a 3 jaw puller next

[millsamus]

Cants get the hub off..... used the Harbour Freight tool to wedge it out but I broke the head off the lug nut bolt!!

Now I have a broken bolt stuck in my hub!!

Have to buy a tap & die set now to drill the bolt out.

Still have to worry about getting the hub off..... trying a 3 jaw puller next

UPDATE:

Got the half-shaft off first then worked with the hub again. Finally came off. Got the bearing off and also ruined the bolt that came with my $100 Harbour Freight "Front Wheel Bearing Kit."

The bolt has so many stripped and ripped threads the quality it unbelievably horrible.

CURRENTLY:

All the old parts are out and the new wheel bearing is stuck, but seated, 1/4 the way in the hole. Not moving at all until I can get a better tool to slide it in.

[OnMy2ndE30]

UPDATE:

Got the half-shaft off first then worked with the hub again. Finally came off. Got the bearing off and also ruined the bolt that came with my $100 Harbour Freight "Front Wheel Bearing Kit."

The bolt has so many stripped and ripped threads the quality it unbelievably horrible.

CURRENTLY:

All the old parts are out and the new wheel bearing is stuck, but seated, 1/4 the way in the hole. Not moving at all until I can get a better tool to slide it in.

When I did this on my 89 2 door, I stuck the bearing in the freezer when I started. About an hour and a half later after I got the old one out and the area cleaned up, I heated up the bearing area in the rear control arm with a torch. The combination of the heat on the trailing arm and the bearing being frozen was a Godsend. The bearing fell right in. I didn't need a press or anything. Just slid right in.

[reelizmpro]

When I did this on my 89 2 door, I stuck the bearing in the freezer when I started. About an hour and a half later after I got the old one out and the area cleaned up, I heated up the bearing area in the rear control arm with a torch. The combination of the heat on the trailing arm and the bearing being frozen was a Godsend. The bearing fell right in. I didn't need a press or anything. Just slid right in.

I was thinking about this the other day. If people freeze the bearings to contract them, then heating the carrier with a torch should expand it and the combination of the two should make it a breeze to get the new bearings in. Glad to hear it worked perfectly. Been putting off doing this job on my M3 but think I will tackle it one of these weekends. Already have all the parts and tools, just been lazy.

Also, I was planning on using the 3 jaw puller method to get the hub and axles out. I was thinking, if I leave the axles bolted on, I can push against the axle to pull the hub out. Once the hub is out, unbolt the axle from the diff and it would just come right out. And if I unbolt the shock and remove the spring I can jack up the arm and I might be able to get away without dropping the exhaust. Any thoughts? I want this to be as painless as possible.

[millsamus]

When I did this on my 89 2 door, I stuck the bearing in the freezer when I started. About an hour and a half later after I got the old one out and the area cleaned up, I heated up the bearing area in the rear control arm with a torch. The combination of the heat on the trailing arm and the bearing being frozen was a Godsend. The bearing fell right in. I didn't need a press or anything. Just slid right in.

Cool I must give it a shot!

I was thinking about this the other day. If people freeze the bearings to contract them, then heating the carrier with a torch should expand it and the combination of the two should make it a breeze to get the new bearings in. Glad to hear it worked perfectly. Been putting off doing this job on my M3 but think I will tackle it one of these weekends. Already have all the parts and tools, just been lazy.

Also, I was planning on using the 3 jaw puller method to get the hub and axles out. I was thinking, if I leave the axles bolted on, I can push against the axle to pull the hub out. Once the hub is out, unbolt the axle from the diff and it would just come right out. And if I unbolt the shock and remove the spring I can jack up the arm and I might be able to get away without dropping the exhaust. Any thoughts? I want this to be as painless as possible.

I left my axel on and used a three jaw pulled thinking the hub would come off. Nope. The splines on the axel were slowly being pushed out instead of the hub. So I decided to let the axel come completely out. Leaving the hub once again left. Had to re use the bearing puller to get the hub off.

[Steven]

UPDATE:

Got the half-shaft off first then worked with the hub again. Finally came off. Got the bearing off and also ruined the bolt that came with my $100 Harbour Freight "Front Wheel Bearing Kit."

The bolt has so many stripped and ripped threads the quality it unbelievably horrible.

CURRENTLY:

All the old parts are out and the new wheel bearing is stuck, but seated, 1/4 the way in the hole. Not moving at all until I can get a better tool to slide it in.

my harbor freight tool broke during the job too, the threads stripped completely. Take it back and they'll either give you a new one or your money back!

[///M42 sport]

get a extra hub just incase.