[s-cars] Wheel Bearing tool?

[Kurt Deschler]

Tom,

I have changed several wheel bearings with one of these tools.
IME, you are better off to remove the strut at the ball joint and do
this off the car. This will not disturb your alignment and will save you
time in the end. The main reason is that will make everything more
accessable and easier to control.

The knock-off version does not have an adapter to pull the hub (the hub
shark may). The easiest approach without an adapter is to secure the
bolt to the hub and knock it out with a hammer from the inside. This
will cause the wheel bearing to fall apart, but the race can be easily
pulled from the hub using either a puller or small prybars on either
side (there are flat spots on the hub where you can grab the race).

Getting the bearing shell out is the hard part. The circlips that hold
it in may be corroded or rusted in place.  It may take some hits with a
sledgehammer to get the wheel bearing loose, even if you have a good
impact wrench tightening the nut. You don't want to be doing that on
the car. You may need to work the bearing in both directions to help
free the circlips. Once the shell is out, sand off any rust from and
give a light coating of grease.

The new bearing goes in without problems as long as you keep it
relatively straight. You should use an adapter that only contacts the
bearing shell.

The hub goes on last. During this step, the bolt must be pulling from
the back side of the bearing so that it pulls the hub into the bearing
while holding the bearing together. The important thing in this step is
not to not pop the races out of the new bearing. Make sure you keep
inward force on the hub when you are setting of the bolt to avoid this.

I personally have the HF knock-off version, but I would recommend the Schley
or hub shark tools if you can afford it, as the quality of the bolt
included in the knock-off is not very good.


	-Kurt


> Message: 8
> Date: Fri, 9 May 2008 09:58:59 -0400
> From: Tom Green <trgreen at comcast.net>
> Subject: Re: [s-cars] Wheel Bearing tool?
> To: s-car-list <s-car-list at audifans.com>, 93urs4 at rovershack.com
> Message-ID: <88CA152F-2908-4FD7-8BD0-E6DCD3695901 at comcast.net>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; delsp=yes; format=flowed
>
> James,
>
> I guess I am a little slow, but I can't figure out how to remove the
> axle
> hub with this tool, or how it can be used until the hub is out of the
> way.
> And then, how to get the hub back in the bearing, all this while the
> strut
> is still on the vehicle.
>
> This tool sounds like a great time saver. Can you help with a few hints?
>
> Tom
>
> > Date: Thu, 08 May 2008 12:16:29 -0600
> > From: James Shackelford <93urs4 at rovershack.com>
> > Subject: Re: [s-cars] Wheel Bearing tool?
> > To: Dave Kase <davekase at pdqlocks.com>, S-Cars
> > 	<s-car-list at audifans.com>
> > Message-ID: <C4489F9D.11C9%93urs4 at rovershack.com>
> > Content-Type: text/plain;	charset="US-ASCII"
> >
> >
> > Dave,
> >
> > Get the hub shark knock-off from Harbor Freight.  It worked like a
> > charm on
> > my wheel bearings.... I think it's about $60-70.  Handy tool to add
> > to the
> > collection.
> >
> > James
> >
> > On 5/8/08 11:40 AM, "Dave Kase" <davekase at pdqlocks.com> wrote:
> >
> >> So the Audi tool is $400+
> >>
> >> Are there any alternatives?  I am not into making one unless it is
> >> drawn
> >> up already.
> >>
> >> Or should I just suck it up and take it to the shop?  What's the
> >> going
> >> rate to R&R a wheel bearing?
> >>
> >> Dave Kase