[s-cars] Wheel Bearing tool?

[Robert Rossato]

Tom,

What usually ends up happening is that the hub comes out with one half of
the inner race of the bearing.  With the split inner race the hub will come
out very easily, obviously at the expense of the bearing, but that's why
you're there in the first place.

Once the hub is out you will need a bearing splitter to grab onto the inner
race half that is still attached to the hub.  The clearance cuts are already
there on the hub to allow you to grab the inner race and pull it off.

This is how they are designed to be removed.  Between myself and a friend of
mine we have collectively replaced around 20-30 wheel bearings using this
tool on various small body VW/Audis over the last 20 years.

Bob


On 5/12/08, Tom Green <trgreen at comcast.net> wrote:
>
> Thanks for personal experience information, Bob.
>
> I am not comfortable with putting so much force on the outer edges of
> the hub to remove it after seeing the force required to press some of
> them out.  Using a hammer and chisel to remove the bearing half from
> the hub can result in damage to that machined bearing seat and result
> in the hub not fully seating the machined radius in the new bearing.
>
> I was hoping there were some additional parts on the expensive sets
> that would allow removal with a puller action.  It is good to see these
> reports from so many using the tool.  I have no doubt that it can pay
> for itself on just two or three jobs.
>
> Tom
>
> On May 12, 2008, at 6:05 AM, Robert Rossato wrote:
>
> Tom,
> >
> > The axle hub is driven out by threading in two bolts into opposing holes
> > on the hub, bottoming them out on the strut housing, and slowly
> > tightening each bolt to pull the hub from the bearing.  I believe on our
> > cars you need another piece that is installed behind the hub to give the
> > bolts something to push against.  Didn't have to do that on the smaller
> > VW/Audi struts.
> >
> > Bob
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: s-car-list-bounces at audifans.com
> > > [mailto:s-car-list-bounces at audifans.com] On Behalf Of Tom Green
> > > Sent: Friday, May 09, 2008 9:59 AM
> > > To: s-car-list; 93urs4 at rovershack.com
> > > Subject: Re: [s-cars] Wheel Bearing tool?
> > >
> > >
> > > 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
> > >
> >
> >
>