bherring

I don't think I've ever been quite so frustrated or felt quite so stupid working on my car before. I'm fairly mechanically inclined. I've done timing belts, tie rods, brakes, basic electrical stuff - so I figured, wheel bearings would be a piece of cake.

I'm working on an '84 944, so at least it's the somewhat easier replacement, so I've heard. I get the rear wheels off, take off the hub, get everything taken apart, cleaned up and regreased, inner bearing goes in with just a little bit of gentle mallet work, seals, everything is cool. Then comes the outer bearing - NOT AS EASY!

I have ruined two brand new bearings try to get them in - exploding them all over the garage when I couldn't get them all the way in and had to pound them back out from the inner bearing side. Trying to to be as gentle as I could, I still broke them.

So, now I'm sitting in my garage, obviously needing to order another bearing (or a whole crate full, based on my past performance), and I take a good hard look into the control arm from the outer bearing side.

I noticed that there really doesn't appear to be enough room to fit a bearing in, and the seal and still have everything flush. When I look into the control arm, I see what looks like the outer portion of a bearing and now I'm wondering if perhaps I haven't removed the entire old bearing to begin with. Which brings me to the "feeling like an idiot" part of this project.

When I removed the inner bearing I noticed that there was a "stop," an inner ring (or actually two half circles, since there are two spaces in it - great for inserting a screwdriver to pound the bearing out) that kept the bearing at the correct depth in the control arm. The inner bearing sits right up against this stop. Well, there is this same type of stop on the outer bearing side, but in front of it is this piece that really does look like the outer portion of a bearing with the groove where the ball bearings would sit. I checked an outer ball bearing, and they don't fit in the groove, but an innner ball does. Maybe the previous owner put an inner bearing on the outer bearing side and I didn't get the outer ring removed?

So I pound on it a little bit, but it doesn't move, so maybe it's part of my car and I'm hammering away like an idiot at something that's not supposed to move.

Can anyone check out the attached picture of what I'm looking at and give me some tips? I'm really frustrated with this bearing. If I can just get it in correctly, I can reassemble everything and be happy again, but right now I just want to shoot my car, and I don't want to feel like that. Thanks.

Granite 944

Ya might try removing the 4 bolts of the bearing/seal retaining plate, remove that plate completely from the trailing arm, then remove the remainder of the outer part of the bearing that is still in there, and try again? HTH

Granite 944

You might take a look at this older thread that shows a picture of stub shaft parts in their "proper" order as they fit into the trailing arm. (without the retaining plate in this pic). Do make sure you get the order of, and correct placement and direction of the spacers when you go to put it all back in there.


https://rennlist.com/forums/showthre...hreadid=108665

kennycoulter

how does the inner bearing come out? i had the opposite trouble you did. ive already had mine apart before. couldnt get the inner bearing out, so the stub axle was stuck.

Granite 944

Clark's Garage has a pretty good write up on this, Clark's Garage/wheel bearings
I've used a puller to get stub out with, or using a hammer against a wood block to remove it, I've not had any trouble just using a brass punch and a hammer to work the bearings out with. The outer races on both bearings should be pretty snug in the housing (fit to fit or very slight press fit).
Do also note that the seals should always be replaced when doing this, and replace both inside/outside spacers ( the seals ride on these spacers) if they have grooves wore in them (won't keep the water/contaminants out). Take notice of the large O-ring that seals the outer bearing retainer/seal plate on. Replace it if not in good shape. (Gotta keep the water/crap out of the inside of the trailing arm housing).

MY83944

I agree with Granite 944 - that should do it. Remove that cover and the remainer of the bearing race.
Mine pressed right in easily. Might also try leaving them in the freezer overnight.
You are about done -

SoCal Driver

This one shows the spacers in the correct possition.

kennycoulter

so what does the snap ring actually hold in? why wouldnt my stub axle come out? is it typical? or do i have bigger problems?

SoCal Driver

The snap ring holds in the inner bearing. This ball bearing takes all the lateral loads. It's inner race is what all the spacers stack up on.

Take off the axle and move it out of the way.

Take the hub off -- the large nut at 350 ft lbs.

The stub axle should just push through and out the inside of the trailing arm.

The stub axle can hang up on the inner bearing when the inner race of the outer roller bearing is cracked and/or has worn a groove into the axle. Like the Chinese finger puzzle.

kennycoulter

hmmmmmmm.............so, the inner spacer is hung up on the groove, witch is hitting the inner bearing, which is held in with a snap ring? or am i interpreting wrong?

SoCal Driver

And you can not get to the snap ring unless you can push the stub axle out the back!

So get a hammer!

But first clear out the outer spacer, bearing and race, and inner spacer.

Inner bearing comes out last, goes in first.

bherring

Granite, thanks a lot. I can't believe I had such a brain fart. It was one of those things where the answer was staring right at me. I took the retainer plate off tonight and the remaining inner race came out nice and easy. I'll be putting it all back together this week when I get some time to torpedo heat the garage to make it survivable (it's FREEZING up here in Michigan).

Also, thanks for the pics of the correct placement of the spacers. I had the inner side all together correctly but I was trying to remember where that outer spacer should go (and which direction).

Granite 944

BRAIN FART? I'm sorry........but I resemble that remark at times! (don't we all?) I'm glad everythings going better! I hope you read through the whole thread that I linked to in a previous post. In the picture, it does "show" the outboard bearing spacer on backwards. It needs to be put on so that the smaller (tapered down and outward) end is against the inner race of the outer bearing, and the inboard bearing spacer goes on with the concave (tapered to the inside) end going against the radius on the stub axle. SoCal did catch this in that thread!
Michigan.......freezing?.......tell me it aint so! I've got a torpedo I use in mine every so often also. Just a reminder.....don't affixiate yourself with it! Ya still need gotta get some fresh air ventilation when using it. STAY WARM!

SoCal Driver

The narrow edge on the outer spacer goes in toward the bearing. It's outside bevel is to reduce the surface against the roller bearing so it only hits the inner race.

Use a good moly grease on the bearings.

bherring

Thanks everyone. I just thought that I'd let you know that I've been a long time "lurker", but because of the great help you guys have given me I decided it would be a crime not to become an actual member. I just got my member number today - just thought I'd let you guys know.

I've been a member of other boards as well (Roadfly for my 84 BMW, ZX2racing for my 99 Escort) but Rennlist has proven to be the greatest group of people ever. Wonderful help on anything and everything on our cars, and passionate people who show what being a Porsche owner is really about.