I tried to save a few buck and had a friend of mine do a hub and bearing replacement. It all was good but lasted 3 months. So I had more time and decided I would do it myself this time and when I pulled it all off the inner bearing was exploded in there and now I am seeing the knuckle looks shot.

This may sound like a stupid question but looking at the pics is a replacement of the knuckle the only option? I am assuming it is but if so I will have to do it myself and have never replaced one before or dealt with ball joints. If I have to do it are there special tools required?

 

The portion I have outlined is what is left of your inner bearing race. When they take this much abuse the part will sortof fuse to the spindle. It can be removed with a hammer and chisel or screwdriver. Try to wedge in behind it. If you are patient and keep tapping it will eventually slide off.

 

So If I get it all off I can buy a new race and then how do I proceed? I appreciate this advice.

 

The new inner wheel bearing will include that race, it is part of it.

 

When I bought the new hub a few months ago I was under the impression that the outer sleeve of the bearing/race was built into the new hub. Am I mistaken? Either way this is great news as I thought I was going to have to replace the spindle.

The Race is the circular metal piece that fits over the bearing its self right?

 

Yes, replacement hubs sometimes have the outer bearing races pre-installed for convenience but the race is actually not part of the hub. There are three parts to the wheel bearing. An inner race, a cage holding the roller bearings, and an outer race. The rollers ride on the races.

Be sure to purchase a new grease seal with your new bearings. Take your time and be sure to pack the bearings full of quality grease before installing them or they will fail in a month or two. The light grease that the bearings come coated with is just to protect them during storage. Good bearing grease only costs a little more and is usually marked high temperature or for disc brakes.

 

Thanks for the help.

So what race is this? It will be provided with the bearing? This race is suppose to be in the hub?

I can now freely spin this race on the spindle when it is all the way back but as soon as I get it off the spindle a bit it locks up and just will not move past a certain point. I guess I need to get back out there and be persistent.

 

Inner race of the inner wheel bearing, it goes where this one is right now.

If you are patient and keep tapping it should eventually slide off.

 

Success!!


I appreciate that.

So when you say it goes where this one goes now can you explain that like you are talking to a slow person? So it does not go in the hub? I slide that race on like that before putting the hub back on? That piece sits against the rear seal of the hub? Sorry if I sound goofy but just want to make sure I understand correctly so it can be put back together correctly. About to go purchase the stuff.

 

I was going to post a pic of the successful effort and it won't let me post them even after I deleted a couple of the others. Does that take more posts or what?