I'm in a ridiculous predicament!

[fwappy]

Sorry for posting this in General Discussion, but I want the most exposure so I can solve this issue ASAP!

Some of you may already know I'm wrapping up the suspension and brakes overhaul, and 5-speed swap on my 325is. I plan to finish it up by Wednesday since I have friends coming into town and I want something to drive!

Anyways, the swap is going perfect and should be a matter of one night, most likely tomorrow. No problem. The problem arises with one of the rear wheel bearings. With the first one, I proceeded to slide the new bearing back into the socket of the trailing arm, but forgot to lube it up real well.

Well... it is seized in there with about 3/8" left to go. I broke the pressing tool and the replacement I bought is starting to bend. I even tried banging it back out with the slide hammer, but it won't budge at all. Arggg!!

Anyhoo, the other side I lubed up nicely and it's all completed, with the axle back in and all new brakes! Nice!! But the other side makes my cringe when I think about it.

What are my options? Is there any tool that will put a zillion pounds of force on it and pop it the rest of the way in? Should I go find another trailing arm from a parts car and just hope the bearing is good for a while? This really sucks a fat ass, especially since I'm eager to get it on the road. I'm having my stock baskets restored, too!!

Somebody please help me.

[PiercedE30]

Take a sawsall and cut throught the bearing on the top and side and take a chunk out of it. Then you just need to get a new bearing.

[AndrewBird]

Did you try the old block-of-wood and a big fucking hammer? Probably won't work at this point, but it's worth a shot.

Short of destroying the bearing to get it out, I'm out of ideas, other them buy a big fucking puller. I think it would be cheaper to destroy the bearing.

[golde30]

lube beind it and on the part thats exposed, then smack it in with wood and a BFH?


EDIT: nevermind, i thought i read only 3/8" in, not 3/8" left out...

[BeirBrennerE30]

cut the bearing... that is your easiest and cheepest option

[redhatpat]

Did you try the old block-of-wood and a big fucking hammer? Probably won't work at this point, but it's worth a shot.

Don't do this. I tried to hammer in a rear wheel bearing once. It was working great until the inner race and some of the ball bearings popped out the other side.

It was an expensive lesson (in time and money). Finding a new bearing locally on a Sunday afternoon sucked.

[AndrewBird]

Don't do this. I tried to hammer in a rear wheel bearing once. It was working great until the inner race and some of the ball bearings popped out the other side.

It was an expensive lesson (in time and money). Finding a new bearing locally on a Sunday afternoon sucked.

Well, he's to the point of either finding a way to force it in, or cutting it in half and getting a new one. I know a hammer isn't the correct way, but it IS a last resort.

[fwappy]

Well, he's to the point of either finding a way to force it in, or cutting it in half and getting a new one. I know a hammer isn't the correct way, but it IS a last resort.

Believe me, I've tried hammering it in. I was cautious of course, but it ain't budgin' for nuthin'.

I thought maybe cutting it would work, but a sawz-all sounds a bit crazy. I don't want to cut into the trailing arm.

Is there some air tool that'll pop it in?

[delatlanta1281]

Not unless you can be extremely careful with an air chisel.
What abot the old big washer and a bolt trick with the old bearing used as a spacer?

[Jscotty]

I didn't have the exact same problem that you have but one thing that worked for me was drilling a couple of 3/8" holes through the bearing. I had to start with a small bit and work my way up but drilling the holes on the edge took the pressure off the bearing and when I started hammering it, the holes weakened the connection to the trailing arm and allowed it to give way a little bit.