deja Posted February 23, 2010 Share Posted February 23, 2010 These cars can be so stubborn. I'm doing my 5 lug wheel swap and started on the rears today. Since I had to drop the LCA anyway to get the halfshaft out I figured it would be easier to work on this thing if I just pulled the whole strut assembly, only 4 more nuts. So I get those out, get the stub axle nut off using a big ass pipe and drove the first stub axle out. It came out with the outer bearing still attached to the stub and the spacer came out too. But the second one was more stubborn. It seem to hang up about 3/4 of the way out. I got more aggressive and it finally popped out. But the outer bearing, spacer, inner bearing and seal stayed in the strut housing. I got the inner seals out but am confused about how to get the bearings out. How do you get these things out? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark Posted February 23, 2010 Share Posted February 23, 2010 If you mean how to get the outer bearing out of the strut housing, Beat it. I've got a big drift I use to bang on that sort of thing. If you have access to a press, that will work also. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnc Posted February 23, 2010 Share Posted February 23, 2010 Inside the housing there are two notches that let you get to the outer race of each bearing using a long pin punch. Mount the housing in a strong vice and then, using the pin punch tap the bearings out. Its unusual to have the outer bearing stick in the housing. I suggest that, once you get the bearings out, you inspect the housing where the bearings seat with calipers to make sure its still round. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deja Posted February 23, 2010 Author Share Posted February 23, 2010 Its not the race I can't get out, although I will need those out eventually too. Its the actual bearings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark Posted February 23, 2010 Share Posted February 23, 2010 Use a long screw driver, rod , punch, drift or similar. Slide the space to one side and beat on the bearing. I'm assuming you will not be reuseing it anyway. The bearing will come out, remove the outer race, then do the inner bearing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMortensen Posted February 23, 2010 Share Posted February 23, 2010 Its not the race I can't get out, although I will need those out eventually too. Its the actual bearings. It IS the race that you can't get out. In he picture on the left, the outer silver ring of the bearing is the outer race. John is saying to find the spots around the edge where you can stick a punch in and rest it on the outer race and drive them out. These are not cone/cup bearings, so the inner race is the inside ring that the balls ride on, the inside of which is the ID of the bearing, and the outer race is the same, forming the OD of the bearing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deja Posted February 23, 2010 Author Share Posted February 23, 2010 Now that I have them out, thanks for the tips guys, I see what you are saying. I thought they would be like the front bearings. So there is nothing left to take out now that the bearings are out? It IS the race that you can't get out. In he picture on the left, the outer silver ring of the bearing is the outer race. John is saying to find the spots around the edge where you can stick a punch in and rest it on the outer race and drive them out. These are not cone/cup bearings, so the inner race is the inside ring that the balls ride on, the inside of which is the ID of the bearing, and the outer race is the same, forming the OD of the bearing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dtsnlvrs Posted February 24, 2010 Share Posted February 24, 2010 For as old as they are, those bearings look pretty good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deja Posted February 24, 2010 Author Share Posted February 24, 2010 I really have no idea how old the bearings are. I've owned the car for 5 years and the stubs have not come out in that time. The PO kept very good car of this car so maybe he changed them at some point. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMortensen Posted February 24, 2010 Share Posted February 24, 2010 So there is nothing left to take out now that the bearings are out? Correct. Just grease the new ones up, install, reassemble and drive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deja Posted February 24, 2010 Author Share Posted February 24, 2010 Thanks. Correct. Just grease the new ones up, install, reassemble and drive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deja Posted February 24, 2010 Author Share Posted February 24, 2010 One more question. I have the useless FSM and all they say is to install the bearings with no mention on how to do that. They do show a special tool to remove the outer bearing from the axle. Some research indicates I need to press the outer bearing onto the axle and the inner into the strut housing. Is that correct? I have no equipment to do that so I guess Ill take it all to the machine shop. Correct. Just grease the new ones up, install, reassemble and drive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark Posted February 24, 2010 Share Posted February 24, 2010 (edited) The outer bearing presses on the axel. I can usually use a block of wood and a hammer to get the axel back in the housing with the new bearing installed. Edited February 24, 2010 by mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deja Posted February 24, 2010 Author Share Posted February 24, 2010 Its that "can usually" part that worries me, LOL. The outer bearing presses on the axel. I can usually use a block of wood and a hammer to get the axel back in the housing with the new bearing installed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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