rear wheel bearing removal
03-05-2004, 02:25 PM
#1
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rear wheel bearing removal
After searching for a while, I never found out what the heck is holding that bearing in. There seems to be a press fit retaining ring on the inboard side of the car. The replacement bearing kit I got has 2 large circlips with it. I've done VW front bearings before with a screw press, but they always had circlips to retain the bearing. What gives? Do I need a shop press to get it out? Thanks!
03-05-2004, 02:36 PM
#2
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Re: rear wheel bearing removal
If you don't have one of the hub tools(hub shark or sir tool) , yes. The bearing is pressed in and out of the hub. Even if you have one of the hub tools, sometimes the race will separate and you need a bearing tool(Kukko 17-1) with a press to take the race off. I have known people to pound them out ,but I don't recommend that route.
03-05-2004, 02:45 PM
#3
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Yes, but what holds the bearing in?
The quarter inch thick rusty ring on the backside of the bearing? I already got the hub out and the race off of that. I tried using my VW wheel bearing remover with a hardened 3/4 in. screw, but it won't budge. I had the whole thing in the vise cranking on the press so hard I snapped the vise right off. (P.S. Don't buy shop tools from HDC!!!)
03-05-2004, 02:57 PM
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Re: rear wheel bearing removal
You need a shop press to do it correctly. The bearing is held in place by friction. It's a VERY snug fit and needs to be pressed in/out. There's no retaining clip.
Cheers,
Cheers,
03-05-2004, 03:06 PM
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Re: Yes, but what holds the bearing in?
Friction holds it in (as I mentioned in my previous post). Unless you're very lucky and/or very patient, that's the only way to get it out without butchering the hub.
03-05-2004, 03:07 PM
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If it's been on there a while it can be a huge pain to get off, and back on
I had a local tuning shop do both of my rear wheel bearings this week. They had some German made tool and still had a heck of a time. They had to literally break one of them out because it was so rusted and heat damaged. Then they managed to break one of the new bearings putting it in. I'm not sure this helps at all, except to say you may need to use a lot of lubrication and force (not always a good idea, but in this case I'd say go for it). Good luck.
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03-05-2004, 03:45 PM
#9
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OK thanks for pix.
Realized that I was trying to press bearing inward. I turned the tool around and pressed in proper direction and the bearing came out. All is well. Sorry, but for some odd reason, my bentley CD has no info on disassembling the rear wheel bearing, but I guess its the same as the front.
03-05-2004, 03:59 PM
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Answer
You have to press the hub out then press the bearing out. A vise will not exert enough pressure and it is very easy for the bearing to get cocked. The key to using a press tool like the sir tool one , is that they basically self center the bearing as it presses in. You may need to use a torch or soak it in liquid wrench or the like.