Rear Wheel Bearing Frustration

Hello all,

I have been struggling with my right rear wheel bearing. The inner bearing came out no problem with only a hammer and improvised drift. The outer bearing is not coming so easily. Speedy Jim's website makes it sound like it should come out with only a hammer and drift, but mine is not budging. I have invested in a bigger hammer and a set of proper drifts, to little avail.

It's been in the driveway for a few days now. Today I rented a slide hammer from a local auto parts place. It got the bearing race to move about 1/16" of an inch but it doesn't seem to be going any further. The slide hammer is a very poor fit and I've had to waste much time grinding the fingers to fit better, but it still slips out easily.

Anybody have any tricks for me? I don't any heat readily available, such as a propane torch. I want to get this over with!

Thanks, Harry

Reply to
Harry Smith
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Perhaps not important, but the car in question is a '74 standard beetle w/ IRS.

Harry

Reply to
Harry Smith

I can only imagine that the race has become cocked in the bore as they are usually not a tight fit. See if you can drift it back in till it seats solidly all the way around. Then drift (lightly) from the back side to push it out, working your way around the race. Watch the outer end to see if there is any movement at all.

Run up to the BigBox and buy a propane or MAPgas torch as a last resort.

Speedy Jim

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Reply to
Speedy Jim

Thanks Speedy, you always earn your name.

Once I took a fourth look at things I finally saw what I was doing wrong. I didn't realize the bearing cap could/needed to be removed...once that was out of the way the bearing race came out easily. One of those boy-do-I-feel-stupid moments. To help those who come after, I might suggest making it explicit in your instructions that the bearing cap should be removed. The bearing cap is mentioned, but its removal is only implied rather than being spelled out. Your page was still a big help and I appreciate the moral support.

Peace, Harry

Reply to
Harry Smith

Maybe not real 'tight' but the outer race certainly needs to be snug in the bore. If it takes a light rap with a hammer to drive it home then it should be fine.

If the outer race flops around in the bore you can wrap it in feeler gauge stock of the needed thickness to obtain a proper fit. Enco sells it...but it comes packaged as a 25 foot roll. I don't where you could buy a smaller quantity.

Last time I ran into that problem I was able to get some feeler stock made by LS Starrett that worked just fine.

Chris

Reply to
halatos

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