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Help - Rear wheel bearing stuck on driveshaft


KnifeySpoony

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So I went to install my new 2deg De Dion ears (replacing the standard 1.5deg ears). I can't get the bearing off of the driveshaft. I also note some play in the bearing when I grab/move the drive shaft. It's odd because with everything intact, grabbing the tire and checking for play I didn't notice any. Is my bearing knackered or will it go tight again with the hub/axle nut back on and tight? Also, any tips for removing the bearing? I tried whacking the driveshaft with a deadblow hammer but not sure what else to try other than hitting it with some PB blaster and trying again later. I didn't grease the driveshaft during my build - I wonder if I should have to ease this process?

 

Thanks

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OK update- i got it off... KIND OF. The fukn bearing split in half. So now the inner half of the inner race is stuck on the driveshaft... 

 

 

20220827_185149.jpg

 

I tried to tap it off of the driveshaft- the thin ring came off (and got slightly bent in the process), but the race only moved a bit and got stuck. Looks like a need a proper bearing puller - I hope it will be able to fit into that small gap.

 

20220827_191436.jpg

Edited by KnifeySpoony
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I'm not sure how far you are from San Leandro, but if you get in a real pickle you can pull the axle and I may be able to help you pluck the race off the stub shaft. If all else fails careful use of an abrasive cutter and chisel will do the trick, but you don't get to reuse the bearing :) !

 

Andy

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Update - OK I bought the HF puller and drift sets. I was able to get it off easily with that. After reassembling the bearing, the inner race turned with significantly more friction than the outer. A bit concerning.

20220828_103639.jpg

So then I went to the other side - used the puller to pull on the bearing housing rather than hitting the axle with hammer. 20220828_130203.jpg

 

Worked a charm although... the bearing split apart again. However now with the housing out of the way I could use the puller to engage the inner race and easily pull it off the driveshaft, with the seal still in place. I reassembled again, and even though it popped in nicely, and the undamaged seal was not binding at all, the inner race once again showed increased friction.

 

 

20220828_130414.jpg

Edited by KnifeySpoony
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Also, I put copper grease on the axle to prevent this from happening next time I disassemble. Hopefully this is not contraindicated. However, next time I pull the bearing, it will likely be to replace the bearing anyways, so even if it splits, no biggie.

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Bad news. Sonoma day tomorrow, took the car out this evening to fill up the tank for the AM drive. At walking pace could hear a high pitch squeal (kinda like a brake squeal), not super loud. At speed, couldn't hear or feel anything. It was only a ~2mi drive there and back to gas station, Vmax ~50mph. When I got home I pushed the car forward and back in neutral (without excessive resistance, btw), and pinpointed the sound to right rear. Felt the hub and brake disc and they were quite hot. Much hotter than the left rear, and the fronts, which were barely lukewarm. Pretty sure the bearing is toast. I don't have any reason to suspect this is from brake drag. So my day is shot tomorrow. Will order new bearing and proceed...

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Interesting to see what you find as the cause of the squeal. Was there a washer/spacer between the inner and outer inner races to maintain the bearing alignment when the hub is installed or do they just butt together? Perhaps the inner inner did not seat against the shoulder/step in the shaft, causing it to be slightly further outboard compared to the inner balls and outer inner race held by the bolt on casing. Did you rotate the hub after torquing the axle and check for bind or noise in the hub?

 

 

 

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There seems to just be a gap between the races - images on CC parts site shows it as well. After putting the hub back on, the bearing felt like it turned fine without resistance or noise. I never actually turned the airborne wheel after torquing the axle nut, but I just rolled the car back and forth once back on the ground (I figured under load would be a better test), and it rolled without noise and without any extra perceptible friction. In fact, once everything cooled down, it rolls again without squealing. It only squealed when it was hot. I'm not sure I understand what happened, but I'll be replacing both sides just to know they are healthy.

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Based on your observations, my first though would be the parking brake lever on the caliper is not releasing fully or new pads too tightly without spinning the pistons back. I assume no brake smell though. 

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That definitely crossed my mind. I did not push the pistons back, but the caliper/pads slid easily back over the disc. Also, if the disc was dragging enough to heat like that, wouldn't I feel resistance to rolling? And yeah, no brake smell. And to me the smoking gun is the extra resistance in rotating the inner bearing race on the bench. Like, if it took 5x as much force to turn as the healthy outer race, then it stands to reason that it will produce 5x as much heat, right?

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Right. I guess I could have asked how much rotation effort was "significant" and how the race was installed.

It should have snapped back together with minimal, even effort around the center with a threaded rod through the center and a large  washer on the inside against the race and through a board across the cap outboard face. That is how the bearing was originally assembled.

 

Since the bearing is recessed into the bearing cap by a flange in the cap, and any normal bearing splitter is going to be flat, I don't see how it could be removed without the inner popping out. The only way would be with a specially made, stepped bearing splitter.

 

Isn't working on cars great?!?

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  • 2 weeks later...

Yesterday, I replaced the wheel bearings on a car with a virtually identical hub design. There must be a small spacer ring that slips over the hub tube that is positioned between the inner and outer caged bearing assemblies. After installing the races, caged bearing assemblies, and seals into the carrier, the hub tube had to be installed. To do this, I used a one foot 7/16" threaded rod (1/2 inch is more common to find and may fit the arbors), a few washers stacked for more thickness and a standard home construction, low grade/strength nut on each end. I selected arbors from an aluminum bearing race and seal installer like the one linked below that would fit well yet press against the caged bearing inner races ONLY. The threaded rod made assembly very easy and perfectly aligned everything; no hammering.

If the spacer ring is left out or is too thin for the bearing tolerances, once the rod is tightened (with minimal effort), the hub won't rotate easily or at all because the caged bearings are clamped too tight into the pressed-in carrier races. The threaded rod lets you know what will happen when you install the axle. This should be a check if there was a factory manual for service. Selective spacers should be offered due to variables in the replacement bearing tolerances / clearances.

Steel driver sets are better but this is what I used: https://www.ebay.com/itm/300930042361?hash=item4610d409f9:g:Z~wAAOSwM4xXYI40&amdata=enc%3AAQAHAAAAsFaYjr2V6l1cWgL%2FxFeoTOUhVLqFyiZYnTrcfWuNJJFi4ggJ6mFDslPrCtdV2xdWRFiMVDOI%2FvO1gBMAHj9kbMJpOAgGT%2BLoP3DaWggZ91w2%2FhY7O1m6qpt%2F7e6rLumPxcgrIRWF8EPAqCuRQakyZZqmns1pLI4ds5IqPaEVwnBfFmmvJ%2BM7cX7qAtdmeuV%2BDTr%2F1zi%2FBpyH9lMwoXpJ4cpJ9HZk3vetshSMwQ6XPrPz%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR5aa8troYA

Better: https://www.ebay.com/itm/393110706383?hash=item5b873958cf:g:fugAAOSwyd1gENjO&amdata=enc%3AAQAHAAAAsN%2F1NGB%2FtROLlCa5vNUiz8GvJ%2BCV3mS3ObuHLuoly1wrz5n0ryCGKSqzhzz2fonlzMyV%2FC0vxqNQXpyqLEElFJXyiJCPko%2BfbhHIKFZGqlDjVmHtqC5zfkf7lDJfOhXIt4UmNwzbGKIunwEAtTqWZ0F8Yw9r7ajC25EO%2FeVS22y%2F2YOFgPhIH6yn7Y9uqn60gSxSgCzPNckpk38QXcrDY7ONqKMnVeI6GZpchdLRfrCU%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR6qa8troYA

7/16 threaded rod (home depot, tractor supply, lowes, online, etc):

https://www.lowes.com/search?searchTerm=threaded%20rod&refinement=4224552713&view=List

I think I found waldo in one of your picks.

KnifeSpoony bearing spacer.jpg

KnifeSpoony bearing spacer 1.jpg

Edited by MV8
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Ok so I got new bearings installed. Pushed back the caliper pistons this time just in case. Old bearings out on bench - they seem fine TBH. Not really sure now - maybe it was just pad drag the whole time? Either way, peace of mind is easily worth the cost of bearing and 2 hrs for swapping them. 

 

Except now I noticed a small weep of brake fluid from right side rear caliper piston... so ordered a new caliper from CC. Rebuild kits aren't cheap and swapping the whole caliper is easier, and I'm lazy. Hoping to get back to Sonoma 10/6 and 10/15. 

Edited by KnifeySpoony
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