Sunday, April 1, 2012

If the wheel bearings are fine, I really really really should leave them alone


As I was typing the title in for this blog, the blogspot software provided an auto-complete option of "If it ain't broke...don't fix it". That blogged turned out to be related to replacing the front wheel bearings, in which I decided wheel bearings are better left alone unless broken. Clearly, I do not learn lessons well.

In the past month, I became so focused on removing the rear wheel bearing, since I had purchased replacement parts a while back and figured that since I have the replacement, I might as well use it. After trying to figure out how to gain clearance to the bearing, finding the jaw pullers to be inadequate for pulling the bearing, going to Harbor Freight to buy the bearing puller set that was current on sale for $39.99, FINALLY pulling the bearing off, but in the process grinding the axle head, I finally stopped and realized, "I really did not need to do this."

In the end, the bearing was fine, I didn't need to spend $39.99 and I could have moved along with the rear axle restoration without this step and saved hours worth of restoration effort. So now I think I have definitely learned this lesson, but just in case:
  • I will not replace wheel bearings unless they are broken.
  • I will not replace wheel bearings unless they are broken.
  • I will not replace wheel bearings unless they are broken.
  • I will not replace wheel bearings unless they are broken.
  • I will not replace wheel bearings unless they are broken.
  • I will not replace wheel bearings unless they are broken.
  • I will not replace wheel bearings unless they are broken.
  • I will not replace wheel bearings unless they are broken.
Just so this experience was not in complete vain, instructions on how to remove wheel bearings are below:

Step 1: Push the axle hub down using the rod and nuts method from Tuesday, March 13th's post. I went through a few rods getting bent in the process (fitting a nut on both top and bottom of the hub helped a bit). In the end, you just need enough space to slide the bearing guide plates in between.

Step 2: Assemble bearing puller around bearing. as you tighten the bearing plates, it will force itself to a better position by pushing the axle hub further down. (I spent too much time worried about spacing on the axle hub in step 1 and this step covered it.)
Step 3: Use something to protect the puller axles from the axle. I ended up grinding out some of the axle center before I realized this was happening and put a washer in between the axles.
(Picture on left shows metal shavings from the axle center.)

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