C531XHO

Hi All

So working on the rear suspension on my 1985 S2 restoration project and have run into some problems with the wheel bearings when installing the hubs.

Bearings are new and drifted in nicely, pushing on the outer race using the old bearing as a drift. Fitted circlips, bearings seemed to be fine, rotated smoothly.

First hub/bearing
I used a bearing puller to insert the hubs into the bearings as I don't have access to a press. Puller was located on the inner race and it went in easily - once installed the bearing is scraping a one point of the revolution when the hub is spun


Second hub bearing
So thinking I had assembled the first one wrong, maybe because it has a split inner race?, I pulled the second hub in using the recess in the bearing carrier. This pulled the centre part of the bearing forward, almost up to the step that the ABS sensor pocket cuts into. I pulled this back gain using the inner race, but there is an outer plastic part that appears to be dislodged



Struggling to upload photos at the moment due to connection issues - will try to post later

In the meantime my questions are;

1. Have I damaged these bearings irretrievably?
2. Can they be recovered/adjusted back into spec?
3. What is the remedy/proper way to install the hubs if I don't have access to a press or WSM tools?

I have redone bearings on lots of other cars and never had a problem - what am I missing?

Happy spannering & Happy Christmas to everyone when it arrives

David

jcorenman

David, photos would help but I think you have likely trashed the bearings. If you froze the bearings and heated the upright, then the bearing should slide in with minimal (if any) force. But it is also OK to push against the outer race if needed, that won't be a problem. It sounds like that part went OK.

The hub has to be pulled or pushed into the inner race but only using the backside of the inner race for the counter-force. I don't have an image of how to do that with a puller. I use a universal bearing kit which is basically choosing a spacer on the backside that only contacts the inner race, a big bolt through that and through the hub to a spacer and nut on the nearside of the hub. Tighten the nut and it pushes the hub into the inner race. So the force-- which is considerable-- is only against the split inner race and not the bearing rollers. It sounds like that might be what you did, but I can't think of any reason for the scraping noise other than damaged bearings.

At that point the bearing was toast: I don't know of any way to get the hub back out with the bearing intact once the hub has seated against the inner race. There is no magical tool that can get between hub and inner race to pull the hub against the inner race, and trying to pull the hub against the upright will separate the split inner race and wreck the nearside cage and seal.

I wish I had better news, and maybe I am misunderstanding something here-- I hope so.

fatmanontwowheels

If I understand you correctly it sounds to me like you used the inner race and or the bearing retainer to push/pull the hub assembly together and if that's the case it's a pretty good chance the bearings are toast.

fatmanontwowheels

Beat me to it lol

C531XHO

Thanks both. Bearing fitment to the carriers went without a hitch. The first hub was fitted correctly according to your comments so should be viable. The second not so, guess I need to redo this. Thanks again, so for the lack of pictures but my upload speed is faulty at the moment