Wheel Bearing Removal and Installation

[cWalk3r]

Hey just wondering if anyone can help me out. Im thinking about doing this but dont have the tool. Has anyone here built there own and can give me specs on what theres is made of? I just dont know what size pipe i need and what size washers i will need.

Looking to build this for an e30

http://www.harborfreight.com/fwd-fro...ers-66829.html

[jlevie]

You don't need anything other than a bearing/pulley tool for the front wheels. For the rears you need a Sir Tools B90 kit , though it is possible to do the job with a big slide hammer.

[cWalk3r]

You can't use that harbor freight tool for the rear? I was looking at some DIY's and they use tools similar to that in the link. I dont have a harbor freight around me and was looking to build something similar

[AndrewBird]

The sir tool is basically a tube, plates and a threaded rod/bolt. The tube needs to be just bigger than the outside diameter of the bearing. Plates needed to be just slightly smaller than the od of the bearing.

[jalopi]

Do you guys have advance auto parts in Canada? Because they rent tools for free. The HF kit would probably work, as will most 'fwd' bearing tool kits. Might be able to pull it off with some 3" exhaust pipe and a corresponding plate + long ass bolt.... but you're not gonna have a fun time.

In the amount of time it'll take you to build & get your diy tool working you could've finished the job with a pre-made tool, sat down and had dinner. Plus you'd be able to use the pre-made tool on other cars. The question is if your time is worth $100.

[MC Hammered]

I just did the front bearings on both cars and no tool was required as they just slid off.

[jalopi]

Yeah but he wants to do the rears

[E30-325iS]

Not what the op asked but, I found it easier and cheaper to take my trailing arms to a shop and have them press the old bearings out and the new ones in. Changed the rtabs and subframe bushings while I had everything apart.

[jeffnhiscars]

Hey just wondering if anyone can help me out. Im thinking about doing this but dont have the tool. Has anyone here built there own and can give me specs on what theres is made of? I just dont know what size pipe i need and what size washers i will need.

Looking to build this for an e30

http://www.harborfreight.com/fwd-fro...ers-66829.html

I actually used that kit today to remove my old bearings from the TAs. Works as it should and for what it costs I wouldn't bother with trying to make something. Keep in mind you don't just have to press in the new bearing but getting the hub in also requires some finesse.

[cWalk3r]

I was doing some reading about removing the rear trailing arm. I haven't even had a chance to get under my car as I just bought it. How is the job of removing the trailing arm? I read it's easier to drop the subframe but I've never done that. Or I can take the fuel filter out but I have a full tank of gas lmao.

With pressing the bearing it you just put a washer bigger than the bearing at the back and a washer the size of the bearing on the front and push the bearing into the trailing arm. Then to get the hub in you'd just put a large spacer in the back so neither race would be able to move and then put a washer the size of the hub on the hub and start pressing it in. Is that the way that it should be done? I haven't done anything with an e30 besides the timing belt but I've done a few odd jobs on my 1.8t Jetta. I still have plenty to learn about cars though haha :)

[jalopi]

No need for a washer or anything behind when pressing the bearing in. You just need something roughly the same size as the bearing to press down.

For pressing the hub in, I tapped it in a bit with a rubber mallet and set the arm up on the press so the inner race sat on a 38mm socket.

FYI, it's a real bitch to set these arms up on most presses because of how the trailing arm is shaped. I had to put both arbor plates down, then two 2"x3"s and then a lexus/toyota crank pulley holder to rest the trailing arm on (this was when pressing the bearing in. Pressing out was significantly more reasonable)

[cWalk3r]

Lol seems complicated! I'm probably gonna start this next weekend. Just needed some advice. I'm gonna look at some hardware stores to put together a press.

Oh one last question!!

Is it actually extremely hard to get the axle out?! I've never tried to take my axle out on something stationary. Usually with my Jetta id loosen the axle nut while it's on the ground (there's no weird locking plate that the bmw has, are those necessary? I don't seem to be able to order a new one if I bed the one that's in there) then I would take the ball joint bolts off and the axle would just slide out. But I guess since i can't do that with the bmw should that pop out?

Thanks