Wheel bearing on hydraulic press..how to
10-03-2009, 08:34 AM
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Wheel bearing on hydraulic press..how to
There are many discussions about removing wheel bearings from front hubs. Yet I have found no details how to remove it from either a 12 ton or 20 ton press, other than "..you need a hydraulic press", or "take to a shop". I have my own 20 ton press (Harbor Freight)...and want to bring up some issues to discuss. :
I've only found two guys that posted more details how to press it out of a press. Both put the entire knuckle on the press, and press the bearing out. First photo from one fellow working on an Acura, putting the entire knuckle assembly on the press. Note that the upward compression force is from the two thin metal bars that he picked up from a hardware store. Some say it works, others say the metal bars bent and collapsed under too much pressure.
The next two photos are from a pre 1998 honda accord. This person follows the the Honda Manual, removed the rotor and knuckle, and placed only the hub/bearing assembly on the press. The issue is, should he press with the hub (wheel studs facing downwards) resting on the press as shown. Note the upper compression is on the HUB. According to the Honda manual, this is NOT the correct way, the upper pressure should be on the bearing itself. A special Honda tool is needed. Cost $107.00 It is just two plates of steel.
See the last two photos. One is from the Honda manual showing where to press. Again upward pressure on the bearing, not on the hub. The problem is one needs a special Honda tool. The last photo shows the tool. It appears it still may be too thin to take all that pressure if the bearing is really stuck. And there is NO WAY just 2 pieces of 3/4" iron bars will replace that tool. See the 2nd photo. There is just no room for the bearing to rest against a straight iron bar. It must that a curve or a square inlet in the middle ! See last photo of what the tool looks like (middle tool, two pieces of metal bar for $107)
Regardless of which method, there is still a second part to all this, and that is to press out the inner race also using another set of tools. ( the big round a bearing puller)
For those that already have the rotor and knuckle removed, what other ways can the bearings be separated from the hub?
Please share some opinions about which way to press if the knuckle and rotor is already removed from the hub/bearing assembly. I don't believe there has been a post getting to such details. Should be a benefit to all.
I've only found two guys that posted more details how to press it out of a press. Both put the entire knuckle on the press, and press the bearing out. First photo from one fellow working on an Acura, putting the entire knuckle assembly on the press. Note that the upward compression force is from the two thin metal bars that he picked up from a hardware store. Some say it works, others say the metal bars bent and collapsed under too much pressure.
The next two photos are from a pre 1998 honda accord. This person follows the the Honda Manual, removed the rotor and knuckle, and placed only the hub/bearing assembly on the press. The issue is, should he press with the hub (wheel studs facing downwards) resting on the press as shown. Note the upper compression is on the HUB. According to the Honda manual, this is NOT the correct way, the upper pressure should be on the bearing itself. A special Honda tool is needed. Cost $107.00 It is just two plates of steel.
See the last two photos. One is from the Honda manual showing where to press. Again upward pressure on the bearing, not on the hub. The problem is one needs a special Honda tool. The last photo shows the tool. It appears it still may be too thin to take all that pressure if the bearing is really stuck. And there is NO WAY just 2 pieces of 3/4" iron bars will replace that tool. See the 2nd photo. There is just no room for the bearing to rest against a straight iron bar. It must that a curve or a square inlet in the middle ! See last photo of what the tool looks like (middle tool, two pieces of metal bar for $107)
Regardless of which method, there is still a second part to all this, and that is to press out the inner race also using another set of tools. ( the big round a bearing puller)
For those that already have the rotor and knuckle removed, what other ways can the bearings be separated from the hub?
Please share some opinions about which way to press if the knuckle and rotor is already removed from the hub/bearing assembly. I don't believe there has been a post getting to such details. Should be a benefit to all.
10-03-2009, 02:20 PM
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Re: Wheel bearing on hydraulic press..how to
a friend did mine and he had a 12ton, but we had to heat up the area around the bearing to pop it out from the knuckle with a torch.
really not sure if that will help
really not sure if that will help
07-23-2016, 08:10 PM
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Re: Wheel bearing on hydraulic press..how to
Great post, too bad it's 6 years old! Does anyone have any links to the process in detail or even to a youtube video? Would be a great help!
07-23-2016, 11:55 PM
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Re: Wheel bearing on hydraulic press..how to
You use the press to press out the hub and bearing from the knuckle. You use a bearing separator to separate the bearing from the hub. You use the press to press the new bearing onto the hub. You use the press to press the hub and bearing assembly into the knuckle. You always want to use the old bearings to press the new bearings onto the hub so you don't damage the new bearing. If you are pressing something that will surround a shaft, then you press only the inner part. If you press something that goes inside of something, then you only press the outside. This is the rule of thumb.
07-25-2016, 05:22 AM
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Re: Wheel bearing on hydraulic press..how to
That Honda tool just looks like a standard bearing separator. Right now a good OTC separator is $69 on Amazon - not cheap, but it's a good tool to have around. https://www.amazon.com/OTC-1123-Bear...ring+separator
I have not been able to successfully extract just the hub from the bearing using a press, the bearing race always comes out with it. Then you have to cut the race off with a angle grinder (annoying job that has a high chance of damaging the hub). IMO, it may be a better option just to replace the hub and bearing if the bearing is bad for any reason. The hub is just a machined piece of steel, get a new generic hub and a good bearing assembly and press them together.
(Prices from Rockauto)
DURA INTERNATIONAL 29595066 WHEEL HUB $19.14
TIMKEN 513098 BALL BEARING ASSEMBLY $31.79
I have not been able to successfully extract just the hub from the bearing using a press, the bearing race always comes out with it. Then you have to cut the race off with a angle grinder (annoying job that has a high chance of damaging the hub). IMO, it may be a better option just to replace the hub and bearing if the bearing is bad for any reason. The hub is just a machined piece of steel, get a new generic hub and a good bearing assembly and press them together.
(Prices from Rockauto)
DURA INTERNATIONAL 29595066 WHEEL HUB $19.14
TIMKEN 513098 BALL BEARING ASSEMBLY $31.79
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