| kevinkay |
01-22-2012 07:21 PM |
I just did both my front bearings, WOW, not a fun job. I could not get the hub off either side with the slide hammer. I took the whole steering knuckle off and knocked it out with a sledge hammer, I used two steel crow bars to prop the steering knuckle on top of cinder blocks. I also gave a good pound to the bearing after I took out the clip. I found with the first side it was hard with the Harbor Freight bearing tool to break the locktite bond. The bearing breaks when you get the hub out, separating the broken part off the hub is not as difficult as I thought but it takes a lot of time, keep pushing it along with a chisel until you can get your bearing puller on. On my second wheel I had a HARD time getting the axle out of the hub, I got inpatient and wacked it out with a sledge hammer-I paid for that- I damaged the threads and needed to buy a new axel end, plus the boot, PLUS the TIME. Its HARD to push in the new bearing when the knuckle is off the car, I had to add an extension bar and its hard to get torque when the knuckle wants to jump and move PLUS working with harbor freight tools you always have the fear that the tool will bust before your finished. (I am not knocking Harbor Fright they are FANTASTIC for giving us cheep one time tools). I worked alone, when getting the axle nut off I hooked a copper elec, wire around the wheel rim to hold the socket tight on the nut while I was further away with a iron pipe on my beaker bar. Not sure I would do this again knowing how much time and "oh *%$&*", lots of those loud snaps that your not sure if it broke free or your tool busted! good luck and leave lots of time
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