Front Wheel Bearing Replacement
 

Hello,

I have to replace a front wheel bearing on my 89 Carrera. In the past I have beat the old race out with a hammer and beat the new one in with heat and a bigger hammer. This time around, im am asking the collective if anyone has a press that will do the job infinitly easier.

Many Thanks,

Chris
89 Carrera
73 911 E
703-967-2990
cmcfaul@aol.com

When I did this with Matt De Maria, we beat out the old race with a "cove chisel" and a hammer. Used a press to put the new one in.

Doing it myself, I use the "US General" (Harbor Freight) Bearing Race and Seal Driver Kit to place the new bearing (aluminum so I wouldn't use it with a press). You're welcome to borrow.

For the rear bearing on a 993 I put the bearing in the freezer overnight then pressed it in with one of the screw driven bearing presses. Much easier getting the new one on than getting the old one off. Perhaps the freezing helps?

Off track from the thread here, but freezing only helps a bit. Much better is to heat the arm (where the bearing is to be placed) until "goot-n-hot" and then use a piece of PVC pipe shaved to just fit the end in the bearing and it goes RIGHT IN. Thanks for Vicegrip for this.

This is actually my third time doing it. Its always a pain. I usually put the bub in the oven but worry I wlll get it too hot. End up beating the hell out of it with a BFH in the end. Getting the old races off is also fun.

Looking for an easier way.

Thanks,

Chris

I have a press you can use if you don't mind working in my rather cluttered (at the moment) garage.

BB.

Heating the aluminum make a far larger deferential is size than freezing steel. Heating the hub then gently walking a race or sealed bearing out is a simple, safe method. PVC pipe works or a shop press. Out is less risky than In.
I prefer to clean the socket of dirt , ridges and burrs then heat the hub or arm. I try to hand slide fit and slide the bearing in. Using a press for hubs and the SIR tool for arms to fully seat. Less chance of damage to the new bearing. I have seen a few folks have issues with front hubs that seem to do out of adjustment over and over. A visit to the shop press to firmly seat the races has worked each time. There seems to be a better set from a press than even beating them in. Bounce back perhaps?

I heated the hub with a strong heat gun for at least 30 mins and pounded the old races out. Still waiting for the new parts from Vertex. Ordered on Monday and have not arrived yet. They are usually pretty fast.

If I heat the hub in an oven. How hot should it be?

Thanks,

Chris

I have a 50 ton press and a bunch of race and bearing adapters. Also have the screw jacks for doing it with an impact, but greatly prefer the press.

Just did the bearings in a couple of cars, including pinion and output bearings in a differential. You're welcome to bring your hubs over if you want to use the press.

Oh, also have an ultrasonic cleaner that I like to run the parts through before assembly, and no problem putting clean parts in the oven here. I did the 928 hubs at 350 for 30 minutes. Even so, the press was needed for installation, but a screw jack style would have worked.