Hi folks

Finally got around to doing front wheel bearings last week. They have been groaning a bit of late at speed. I actually bought the bearings about 6 months or so ago (or perhaps longer). From British Parts (great company by the way). Quick run down:

1) Jack up car, axle stands, wheels off. Anti-rattle clips off. Calipers and caliper brackets off. Discs off. Standard script
2) Hub cover off - small flat head and hammer get this off without any damage. Clean out the grease
3) Split pin out followed by nut retainer off. Undo axle nut by hand (if it was done right before). Recover slotted washer with magnet/screwdriver.
4) Pull off the hub. Should just slide off. Rear bearing and race will probably stick on spindle but just pull off by hand. I had a puller ready but with no preload on these bearings they just pull off
5) Remove outer bearing from hub and give it a good clean. You can use petrol and get it perfectly clean but I just wiped it out.
6) Use punch and lump hammer to drive out inner and outer races. Take these and cut a slot into them with an angle grinder
7) Take new races. Tap them in to get them starter. Use old outer races to drive them home. The slot cut in the old race means you can just ping it out with a screw driver
8) Fit new bearings and squeeze grease provided all over everything. Slide the hub and bearings onto the hub
9) Take hub nut and washer and tighten down so that everything is nicely squeezed together but don't go crazy tight.
10) Back the nut off completely and then tighten by hand. Then with spanner just knock it like 1-2mm (AT THIS POINT YES I KNOW I SHOULD USE A DIAL GAUGE!)
11) Refit the nut retainer and split pin. The one in the kit was way too fat and no way would it even go through the hole let alone with the nut retainer on
12) Refit everything you took off it item 2) and 1) above

I think officially you use a dial gauge to test pre-load or something on the bearing but its a quick job and not expensive so if they do go again ..... then I'll perhaps buy a dial gauge. The most important thing is DO NOT TIGHTEN UP THE HUB NUT as you would on say a BMW bearing, it will ruin it very quickly. On the rear bearings you have to use massive force on the hub nuts but the fronts almost nothing.

My only follow up to this will be to check one side split-pin as I really hammered it and yanked on it with side-cutters getting it out and then had to re-use it so I'll probably whip that wheel off soon and remove the dust cover and swap it for a new one of the right size.

Hope useful

 

Sam, did you changed Inner oil seals?

I am changing bearings and seals at the moment and cant remember which direction inner hub seal goes in...I think " A " is correct one...but I need to check...