MechanicAdvice
How do I get this broken and stuck wheel bearing out?
Hi everyone, it is my first time changing front wheel bearings on my car. I have manged to remove the hub, remove the snap ring (after much struggling), but when I tried pressing the bearing out, it broke apart. I have tried pressing on the remaining part, from both sides, and have tried soaking it in WD40 and heating with a blowtorch but have not been able to get it to budge at all. Any advice would be appreciated, thanks!
Discussion
We remove these with a 30-ton press.
This is a press-in bearing.
A machine shop, local old-time part store maybe, can help. This is not a home DIY item.
I rented bearing press from O'Reilly's that used my large impact. It worked great! Was able to press them in and out with little to no issue. There was some ignorance there as I've never used a press, but it worked really well!
I have a press at home, but it is so stuck it will not move at all!
Did you remove the retaining ring from the front side (behind where the hub installs). The bearing presses from the rear out the front. How much pressure does your press make? Most bearings won't start moving until ~5tons
I removed the ring after much struggling! Everything was very rusted in place. My press is rated for 6 tons. Maybe this is too small for a rusted bearing like this?
bearings around here usually don't even like to budge on 20 ton presses, the rust isn't too friendly with them after years. It's usually easier to cut them out.
Yikes, where the heck is this?
Im located in CT, USA. We salt the roads in the winter and generally have very heavy rot/rust on vehicles as a result. I've only seen 1 bearing in 20 years fight us past ~10 tons. The knuckle split @ 15 and we actually found an entire knuckle/bearing/hub assembly from NAPA and replaced the whole thing.
Northern Canada. Honda knuckles, I prefer to just drop the knuckles, bearings, and hubs off at a shop and let them deal with it. I genuinely am concerned for my safety when pressing them out, i've seen my fair share of things become claymores when on a press.
(Heavy duty mechanic btw, not even I want to touch them lmao)
It may be too small. I've had some bearings take a bit over 10 tons to remove.
You recall the person you were replying to stated a 30 ton press and you came back with that you had one, only to now reply it’s a 6 ton press? It didn’t have the power to do the job easily. Wouldn’t have cost you much money to take it to a shop to have them press out the old one and press in the new one.
Also, make sure to support the knuckle when pressing, while leaving room for the bearing to pass out and clear the support.
Yikes…you in the rust belt?
I replaced my front wheel bearing and went through what you're going through right now.
I bought one of these Ball Joint kits from Harbor Freight and one of the included cups fit around the outer race of the wheel bearing perfectly and I was able to press it out.
you will need another press for your press
Get a new knuckle?
I'd try to source a new knuckle. The backside in Picture 2, it's damaged.
Yeah its got a big chip in it
It looks like part of the snap ring is still there in the bottom of the second picture. All of it is kind of moot at this point as the knuckle has been broken. Its now not safe to reuse.
Can you explain, how has the knuckle been broken?
At the 1 o'clock position of the second photo, there is a small piece that broke off. That is part of what holds the snap ring that holds the bearing. With that damaged, the ability to hold any new bearing is diminished.
Oh I hadn't seen that! Would that small piece really be enough to stop the snap ring from staying in properly? It's an old and rare car so parts have been extremely hard to find, I doubt I'd be able to find a new knuckle. How bad would it be to just send it as is?
It's an unknown. The metal that's still attached in that area has been stressed and is now fatigued and compromised, so the extent of the area that wouldn't hold is unknown. The snap ring will still go in, but in that area, there is nothing that will keep it from coming out. It could work or not. There's no way to tell, but if it does fail, it will most likely be when you're taking a corner as that's when wheel bearings are under the most lateral force. If the car is a parking lot princess, then its probably fine. But if this car gets used, then it could be an issue down the road. If getting a knuckle isnt an option, then I would probably reuse this one and keep a close eye out for any shifting of the bearing. I would also keep an eye out for a replacement knuckle and be ready to buy one when it comes up.
Okay thanks for the advice I'll be sure to keep this in mind just to be safe!
Similar size socket and a hammer , should do the trick.
Edit: Pic 1 side looks better for this combo, just watch out you dont hurt yourself . Gl
Your the only one i can see who has said this, the only thing i can add is everyone can buy a cheap map gas bottle or a gas bottle of some kind to heat up the exterior of the knuckle. And to re-install the bearing op could put the new bearing in the freezer. People are talking about welding and shit, not everyone can afford or use a welder. I agree with other statements, take the knuckle to a shop theyll press out and install the parts. Someone else mentioned the knuckle is broken, its really hard to tell but that person very well could be correct. Op MIGHT need a whole new knuckle - which you can buy loaded ( already installed bearing) but yeah i agree with you and some others but i dont agree with everyone so far.
Wasnt even looking if its broken , but yes totally agree with you regarding the heat/cold treatment , best options as you also said is for a shop to do it with proper tools , mostly for safety reasons , getting hurt or not installing it properly back, which could lead to even bigger issues later. Gl op
I have an 03 explorer with the pressed in rear wheel bearings, I had to heat and beat the shit out of it to start it moving but then it pressed out just fine. People replace the knuckle on these shits instead of the bearings, that's how much of a bitch they can be.
Make a weld on in. But realy on the area where Balls were rolling l. Not anywhere else.
Yep, wire wheel it quick and put a weld bead in the id of the bearing race itself which should shrink it enough for the press to get it to move
I’ve never needed a press after running a bead or two around the race.
Cut into it and bend it out. A little nick on the hub is no big deal.
This works ^
Heat N’ chisel
Saw the bearing cage with a small angle grinder
Yeah, this. I took mine out with a Dremel and a cutting wheel
Thank you, will give this a try!
Get a new spindle. That one is broken
One method is welding something in to it and then press it out. If you have hard enough drill bit, you can try and drill some notches in to the inner race, then approach it with a screwdriver from the other side and beat it out. I have once drilled three small holes in to the part the bearing was in to get to it from the other side. If you can see at least the edge from the other side, you can try hit it using a screwdriver and a hammer. In your case however, I see that part is already damaged. If I were you, I'd get a new part
Hydraulic press. Or a slide hammer. Or even an air hammer.
Heat everything with a torch let it cool and do it again then use the press. You can bake it in an oven. The heating should loosen the rust. 400⁰ should be fine. Also make sure the wife doesnt find out you used her oven...
A hydraulic press and some experience. Looks like you pushed the bearing out instead of the race (outer part)
You should be able to get a flat head or chisel and hammer it out from the edge. It should start bending from the point.
Looks like maybe part of the snap ring is still there? Either way the second picture shows what looks like damage to the knuckle, if so you’ll need to replace the whole thing
Sometimes they need a little hammer while under tension. Load up the press and then strike the knuckle near the bearing bore.
Be prepared for it to pop out or move around, make sure its supported, don't hit where it may shatter, etc.
When you install the new part, make sure you're pressing on it correctly. The outer race is what you should be pushing on to install the bearing, and then you'll need to make sure you're supporting the inner race correctly when you install the hub. The old bearing usually works as a press tool.
If the car has ABS the bearing may also have a specific direction for install too.
I might be late to the party on this, O'Reilly's Auto Parts has a rent a tool, bearing/hub press you use while knuckle is still on the car. I was skeptical, but I changed a hub and bearing in 30 mins, the whole job. It is amazing.
Is it very expensive or possible to just buy the whole knuckle with bearings already installed? This is what I did with my 07 forester.
Now that it’s chewed up, just get another hub carrier.
Get a bearing puller ( you can rent from auto parts store) and ad some heat to it… a small butane torch should be enough
For the hassle remove the hub and take it to your local garage to press out. I got my garage to remove and fit a bearing. They supplied the bearing too.
This is after removing and fitting one myself with a bearing press tool I got online. While fitting the new hearing it fell apart, I was left with half bearing inside my hub.
Alternatively you might be able to find a used replacement hub online or from a scrappy but it's pot luck.
Heat and a press or cone and hammer set
No need hub is junk
Forget about it go get a used one at salvage yard
Remove the clip!!! 😂 Then press it out!
Take it to a machine shop.
It’s better to replace the assembly at this point. Detroit axle has them pretty cheap, or rock auto!
Impact hammer and chisel from the inside has worked for me in the past, heat will expand the bearing making it more difficult. I have taken a torch and cut into the bearing housing in a couple places and pound them out that way as well.
U broke the knuckle. Also, u need a press to install. In the future, just take the whole knuckle to the shop
Yeah i was thinking it looks damaged.
What do you mean, where have I broke the knuckle?
Picture 2 at the top, there is a chunk missing from the lip of the hole, it might be fine or it might not.
Jesus H. Christ did you chew on it like a fucking beaver??
That’s grease, not metal
mmm yeah the knuckle is wasted. next time go to the shop
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