Anyone have a cheap/easy route of replacing the Front Wheel bearings on a 97 Ex ?

I don't have a press or many AUTOMOTIVE tools.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEDrioMDe1k

Yes, he uses and air hammer but you don't need one. Just put the hub in your freezer for an hour or two and let the new bearing sit out in the sun awhile before putting the two together. Use the old inner race and a small sledge hammer to slide the bearing onto the hub.

 

Don't you mean put the bearing in the freezer (colder is smaller) and the hub outside in sun to heat it up and expand the race?

 

I did this job last May so I have to think about it. Without a press you have be careful to get the bearing started straight on the hub. Once it's started then it's just a matter of using enough force to seat the bearing. So, yeah, I think you want the hub (the shaft) to contract so that goes in the freezer, and you want the bearing (the hole) to expand so that goes in the sun.

Looking at the video again, I noticed that Eric the Car Guy doesn't use air to get the new bearing on the hub. He just puts the bearing on top of a vice and pounds the bearing down using a big old bolt that fits over the race. Instead of a bolt I used the old (cracked) inner race. Same result.

 

im prolly just going to order the bearing, take off the hub and then take it to have it pressed in and then reinstall the hub

 

if the bearing is smaller and the hub is bigger how would that make it easier the push the bearing onto the hub?

im pretty sure he said it right.

when i am doing this repair i like to either have a shop press them in and out or order them preassembled. it can be very easy to damage the bearing by either forcing it on wrong or running the car with it off center