Front wheel bearing nightmare

[Pork Chop]

I am having trouble installing the front wheel bearings. I am using threaded rod and washers to press them into place. The right side went in ok but the left are a f@#king joke - the fit is so tight, it just wont go any further. The bearing is going in straight but is stuck. I am thinking of removing the bearing and freezing it - is that a good idea?. Can someone please help as this is really pissing me off.

Thanks guys.

 

[bcware]

Freezing and heating will work, just make sure you're careful with any seals made of plastic or rubber.

I used heat to install/remove the steering stem bearings.

I haven't done my wheel bearings yet, so I don't know if your difficulty is normal.

 

[Pork Chop]

Ok, so I popped that pig of a bearing out and put it in a bag in the freezer. I have no heat gun so I will use the missus hair dryer to heat the hub a bit - better than nothing. Hopefully this will make a difference. Anything else I should try?

Cheers.

 

[bcware]

Maybe some grease too?

I think the heat from the dryer and the frozen bearing will do it though; mild heating did the trick for me with the steering stem. I certainly didn't get it THAT hot.

 

[drewpy]

don't forget the spacer, or you have to start again!

use a blow torch on the wheel (gentle Jesus like)

 

[Pork Chop]

Thanks Drewpy, but the closest thing I have to a blowtorch is a can of hairspray and some matches. will a hair dry make any difference or just wasting time?

The spacer has what looks like a washer stuck to it on one end, does that go on the right side?

Cheers.

Posted via Mobile

 

[drewpy]

the "top hat" washer goes on the speedo drive end of the spacer

I think you need it a bit hotter than a hairdryer. buy a heat gun/craft heat gun you can use them for shrink tubing too

 

[Pork Chop]

Yeah baby - another (small) battle won. The bearings are installed.

I have a popcorn air popper and as we all know, popcorn needs to be heated to over 230c to pop so i used that to warm the hub as i dont have a heat gun. The bearing had been in the freezer for a bit and was nice and cold (shrinkage). I used the old bearing as a drift and i slowly tapped it in - a piece of cake.

It was a hell of a lot easier than getting it out. I had to use a dremel to cut the inner bearing race, remove the ball bearings and hammer directly on the outside bearing race.

 

[Greasey Fingers]

Another story with a happy ending I wont even stuff around when I do mine ill just throw the bearings straight in the freezer and heat up the hub. Thanks for the hot tips (no pun intended) pork!