Front Wheel Bearing R&R

[andrewwynn]

I love the hydraulic press.

If it was 20T I would have copied you. With only 10T that would have not gotten my bearing out based on the fact in spite of lubrication I stripped the crap out of a 3/4-16 hardened rod (proto tools).

I found a web calculator you can put in the torque applied and the thread size to calculate tensile force, the math worked out to about 33,000# remove and about 20,000 to install.

I didn't bother to freeze parts since I upgraded to the 1" bolt but I did apply heat to the knuckle while removing though I don't think it was needed.

Anybody using a threaded rod especially a 3/4-16 definitely use heat and cold to assist!

That was awesome to watch the hydraulic press just silently push in that frozen bearing. Five stars!

When pressing in the hub I use a small press plate so it's only pushing on the inner race of the bearing so there is no significant force on the bearings just the hub and inner race.

I didn't need to chill the hub with my upgraded press (now good for 28 tons). Nor did I freeze the bearing this time around. It probably takes about 15T to press in and 20T to press out without heat and cold. I've seen posts where people could not press out the bearing with a 20T hydraulic press (but clearly not heat because I've removed two with on the order of 15T)

Op: how close are you to Tampa? I have a brother in Tampa I could work out a loaner situation for the bearing press. Do you have access to a high torque impact or high strength ratchet (ideally 3/4 drive)?