I searched prime prior to replacing my wheel bearings and all I really found was that you needed a press. So, I ran to Harbor Freight and picked one up. This way I can use it once and then move it around my garage until I sell it for $10 at a yard sale in 20 years.
Anyhow, it worked well with removing the hub from the bearings. HOWEVER, removing the inner race from the hub was a little more than I bargained for. To quote my uncle, “I got a little something I wasn’t looking for.” After deciding that I had just hosed myself I looked online to see if I could find anything. Hondatech had a DIY with different options. It seems the most common method is cutting into the race and then using a chisel to break it. Someone else alluded to notching the race and using a gear puller to take it off. This is the option I chose to pursue.
I used a compound miter saw with a metal cutting disk to notch the race. It made it very easy to hold still and make a decent notch. I then attached the gear puller, put it in the vice, and viola. I worked very well. The only thing that would have made it easier would’ve been a torch. One of the rears was so tight when I pressed it out I thought I actually broke the press.
Left side - Hub without race. Right side - Hub with race.
Today's task is pressing on the new bearings. I have had the hubs in my freezer all night. I'm then going to heat the bearings a bit with my heat gun and press them it.
Anyhow, it worked well with removing the hub from the bearings. HOWEVER, removing the inner race from the hub was a little more than I bargained for. To quote my uncle, “I got a little something I wasn’t looking for.” After deciding that I had just hosed myself I looked online to see if I could find anything. Hondatech had a DIY with different options. It seems the most common method is cutting into the race and then using a chisel to break it. Someone else alluded to notching the race and using a gear puller to take it off. This is the option I chose to pursue.
I used a compound miter saw with a metal cutting disk to notch the race. It made it very easy to hold still and make a decent notch. I then attached the gear puller, put it in the vice, and viola. I worked very well. The only thing that would have made it easier would’ve been a torch. One of the rears was so tight when I pressed it out I thought I actually broke the press.
Left side - Hub without race. Right side - Hub with race.
Today's task is pressing on the new bearings. I have had the hubs in my freezer all night. I'm then going to heat the bearings a bit with my heat gun and press them it.
