Rear Wheel bearings
 

Hey guys,

How important is it to do rear wheel bearings... I'm in the area doing the CV joints, and I know the bearings havent been done in a while... It sounds like a PITA so I'm hesitant to do it if it's not necessary.

any thoughts?

It is really an easy job if you have the right tool. If you have the Stub axles off anyway, might as well do the bearings at the same time. If you don't have the right tool, then its a different story. You might be able to borrow one, but I'll only loan mine out to paid members.

are you talking about the porsche recommended tool?

From the pictures at the beginning of Clark's procedure, I think I'm running the aluminum trailing arms because I have the cv joint that looks like that one - not the stub axle as on the STL arm.

or are the CV joints the same on both?

I havent done much in this area yet so I'm still learning - pardon the curve.

Ian

I understand the bearings in the older steel trailing arms are fairly easy to remove.

If you have the newer alum trailing arms however, the bearings have to be pressed out. This requires a special tool or a shop with a press. The bearings will not come out ony other way - trust me on this one. With the tool you can remove the bearings while the arms are still attached. Several vendors sell the tool - they run about $225. If you want a shop to press out the bearings, the arms have to be removed. Therefore, rerplacing the rear wheel bearings can be a complex procedure. Unless they are making noise or are worn, I'd leave them alone.

IIRC both type arms have stub axles.

I found that a propane torch on the aluminum trailing arm eliminates the need for a press. That said, they get really noisy when they start to go out. If they are going bad, you'll know it.

West

Boy howdy. When mine went south I couldn't drive the car. Really was hammering back there.

Several good old threads on this procedure. Definitely worth a search. Having the proper tools makes a load of difference. I didn't find the job too difficult at all. Contrast that to the rear bearings on a '93 Supra I just did a couple weeks ago - I'd do a 951 anyday and twice on Sunday over that one.

PS - Hey West, sorry I didn't catch you at TWS last month. Too much going on at home that weekend.

here's the one Bruce makes/sells:

http://www.arnnworx.com/bearing_tool.htm

http://www.arnnworx.com/

If you plan to remove your wheel bearings, buy the tool from Bruce at Arnnworx. You will save yourself a lot of headaches and busted knuckles - and save a bunch of money! A shop would charge you 3X that amount at least.

I jsut bought the bearings, front and rear and had a local brake shop (Just Brakes) install them. Did great job and really cheap.

I don't know why but that scares me.....