Philip Hubbard wrote:
>
> I have a question about wheel bearings. I started to read on how to change
> these and found that I am supposed to have a special tool - a hub extractor
> and may need another one - a hub bearing remover. Is this really the case?
> Should I have a pro do the wheel bearings?
>
One of the front hubs on my bugeye came right off, the other one
required the extractor. The local auto-parts-chain-store rented one to
me for $5 or some such trivial amount.
One of the bearings (actually, the "inner bearing race") stuck on the
stub axle. I was unable to find a tool to remove it. After trying a
cold chisel, then heat, I finally cut it off with the cutting disk of a
Dremel.
Some advice I got from the list on installation: put the bearings in the
freezer overnight and heat the hub in the oven for an hour just before
installation.
You will still need a "drift" set (I got a cheap set at the
auto-parts-chain-store for $10 or so) or some appropriately sized
sockets or pipe segments to drive the bearings into the hub, and
possibly to seat the hub back on the stub axle.
All in all, not a difficult job even for this shade tree mechanic.
Chas Douglass -- Seattle WA
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