ryanstev

I need to replace the wheel bearing on my Skyline, the rear left.
Unfortunately the bearing (which comes in a hub) has rusted itself to the wheel hub. I've tried and tried and it won't budge.

Today in a last attempt I put the jack under the stud assembly (the bearing is pressed onto the stud assembly and bolted to the wheel hub) and it simply lifted that corner off the jack stand.

Can anyone tell me how to remove the bearing hub?

I'm thinking that I might have to buy an angle grinder and cut it off and then smooth over the bits stuck to the wheel hub. That would take a LOT of time.

Maybe I should just buy another wheel hub, one with a bearing and stud assembly still attached and replace it that way.

Pilotx1

best suggestion ive got for you is to research what hubs nissan used on their other cars pick the most similar design and talk to your local friendly nissan dealer(Im assuming that the skyline was not imported locally to you) if it was imported then the dealer will know how to deal with it. If at all possible ask to speak to a tech Ive had good luck doing this at several makes dealers and have gotten some of the best advise for problems from the guys that see it every day.

the angle grinder, can be both your best friend and worst enemy, and it usually switches sides in about 1 seconds when your using it. use it as an ABSOLUTE last resort

ryanstev

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Pilotx1 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">the angle grinder, can be both your best friend and worst enemy, and it usually switches sides in about 1 seconds when your using it. use it as an ABSOLUTE last resort</TD></TR></TABLE>

Thanks for the reply.

I was talking to some mechanics, (older guys, lots of experience) one of them said they had a 20 ton press that was unable to remove a bearing, they went out to lunch and when they came back there was a loud crack, that's when the bearing finally came off.

So if I used an angle grinder and cut as much off the bearing hub as I could, I may still have ALOT of trouble pulling the bearing hub off.
(The bearing hub is simply bolted onto the wheel hub, it's not pressure fit on.)

Pilotx1

can you post a pic of the hub?

Skylines were never brought to the US so ive never seen one in real life. Probably my favorite car though

ryanstev

Here it is:





As the first picture shows, the bearing hub is bolted to the wheel hub by 4 bolts.
The stud assembly is pressed into the bearing hub.

Pilotx1

its part way off the spline so thats good, try some wd-40 or other penetrant to hopefully act on the rust, let it soak for a while too. Heat could also help, dont use a torch though, you run a high risk of getting the spline axel too hot and ruining the heat treatment, an electric heat gun will help hair dryers dont do anything they arent hot enough. try a rubber mallet and tap the hub back onto the spline. there might be a retaining ring its caught on. check the diagrams for a view of the spline, if thers a groove drawn at the end Ill bet theres a retaining ring

Im so jealous.... busted or not I want a skyline

ryanstev

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Pilotx1 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">its part way off the spline</TD></TR></TABLE>

Unfortunately, that's not my car. My axle is floating free, it's not a problem at all, the bearing hub though has rusted onto my wheel hub.
The gear puller I'm using pushed the axle all the way in and, not knowing if there's a circlip inside the diff to keep the axle from sliding out, etc, I don't want to put too much stress on it, I don't want to have to open my diff and go feeling around for a broken circlip.

Flashmn

Similar to corolla hubs...
Only way to get the bearing out is to use a press. We used a metric 50t press to get it out, granted we didnt get it to full power but we already got quite high before you started hearing creaking that the bearing was moving. Theres a reason they have a tight fit.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">its part way off the spline so thats good, try some wd-40 or other penetrant to hopefully act on the rust</TD></TR></TABLE>
Problem is that it wont penetrate into the tight fitting splines, especially if theres rust formed between. using a torch to heat the end of the shaft would work.

ryanstev

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Flashmn &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Similar to corolla hubs...
Only way to get the bearing out is to use a press.</TD></TR></TABLE>

The stud assembly is press fit into the bearing, but the bearing is simply bolted onto the wheel hub. Once you remove the four bolts, the bearing hub and stud assembly should freely pull away from the wheel hub.

BigMoose

Put some sacrificial bolts back in, that catch the full thread in the bearing hub but stand proud on the back of the wheel hub. Then use an air chisel with a blunt tool on the bolt heads to work the bearing hub out of the wheel hub. If you can't get the air chisel in then you may have to remove a few of the links on the wheel hub to get access.

Good luck!

Flashmn

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">The stud assembly is press fit into the bearing, but the bearing is simply bolted onto the wheel hub. Once you remove the four bolts, the bearing hub and stud assembly should freely pull away from the wheel hub.
</TD></TR></TABLE>
Yeah I know, but the bearing is pressed into the hub assembly and you can change just the bearing from it by pressing it out. Atleast it looks like it.

ryanstev

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Flashmn &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
Yeah I know, but the bearing is pressed into the hub assembly and you can change just the bearing from it by pressing it out. Atleast it looks like it. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Oh, I see what you mean, unfortunately the bearings are only available with a hub, so I can't do that.

Flashmn

yeah, if you get them from nissan, but I'm pretty sure you can get them from a bearing shop with the old one as an example/bearing number. thats how we get Escort RS2000 bearings, as ford doesnt supply them anymore.

ryanstev

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Flashmn &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">yeah, if you get them from nissan, but I'm pretty sure you can get them from a bearing shop with the old one as an example/bearing number. thats how we get Escort RS2000 bearings, as ford doesnt supply them anymore.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I'll keep that in mind, but if I'm unable to remove the bearing hub it'll probably be cheaper for me to buy a complete wheel hub from a wreckers yard and replace the entire thing.