Yup - time to change a front wheel bearing.

I'm trying to design a hub holding tool that's compatible with the rest of my resources. Open the attached document to see a simple diagram. It'll be made of 1/4" steel welded into an angle iron. There'll only be two holes for the wheel studs and it will have two triangular gussets just beyond the holes to prevent twisting. I'll place this into a very stout vise with the gusset right up against the vise jaw.

I'm open to suggestion as to whether this will handle the load of removing the ABS "nut" or should I double up the steel? Also: would only using two wheel studs risk damage to the studs themselves? Any other ideas are welcome too!

As always: THANKS!

 

In theory it would hold it however you might risk bending the studs, you would need to have the plate right up against the hub face...... What I do is have 3 aluminium tubes, about 1" o/d with a 1/2 i/d each one has a flat milled on them which slides over the studs, the flats then sit against your vice jaws. I have done it many times like this without issue and very simple to make

 

I fixed the hub to my workbench.

 

Thanks guys. The alluminum tube thing sounds interesting. Not sure where I'd find the 1/4" thick tubing though. I love the work bench idea, but the only hydraulic press I have access to is in a Navy work shop. I really shouldn't go drilling holes in government property. Only politicians are authorized to be so irresponsible!

 

When I say studding I am talking about the bolts your lug nuts go on to that stick through the hub, these either screw in or are pressed in from the back

 

you could always just get a couple of cheap steel lugnuts from an old chevy pickup or jeep if your studs are 1/2-20 thread and use those on the studs with the nuts in the vise.

flat side of the nut towards the hub face so that there is less bending moment.

 

Look at the attached photo to see what I did when I changed my front bearings. Fortunately I was also putting on new front rotors at the same time so this was a no brainer.

I cut the edges off of one of my used rotors with a metal band saw. I had access to one in a friend's shop but any machine shop could do this easily for you.

Then it was a simple matter to secure the used rotor in a large workbench vise and attach the hub to it using the lug nuts. It wasn't going anywhere.

 

On heavy trucks it's common to just weld a 3/8" thick or better piece of bar stock to a work bench and place the hub over it, allowing the studs to catch and the stock and prevent rotation. Easy peasy.

 

Great ideas guys! What a great brain trust this is. I'm feeling better about the project.

Now, ... if only the Brain Trust could come up with "THE" reason so many of ABS/DSC systems choose to commit mutiny.

Love it!