Front hub rebuild problem
Discussion
Hi all
I'm in the middle of putting my front hubs back together having cleaned them up and fitted new bearings. I've read a post on here where the OP says that he easily tapped the hub through the new bearing before adding the rear bearing/washer/nut. However, my hub doesn't want to 'tap through' at all. It's started onto the shaft but won't go any further on. I've even put it into the vice to give it some gentle persuasion, where it moved a bit further on before stopping again. Is this normal behaviour that just needs more pressure applying or is it a red flag scenario?
I'm in the middle of putting my front hubs back together having cleaned them up and fitted new bearings. I've read a post on here where the OP says that he easily tapped the hub through the new bearing before adding the rear bearing/washer/nut. However, my hub doesn't want to 'tap through' at all. It's started onto the shaft but won't go any further on. I've even put it into the vice to give it some gentle persuasion, where it moved a bit further on before stopping again. Is this normal behaviour that just needs more pressure applying or is it a red flag scenario?
To add some clarity as to my process so far, I have:
- fitted the new races into the hub carrier (both sides)
- fitted the new bearing into the race on the hub-side
- fitted the oil seal over the bearing on the hub-side
- placed the hub through the seal and into the wheel-side bearing
I've read it that the oil seal needs to be fitted to the wheel-side bearing before reassembly, meaning I couldn't have fitted the bearing directly to the shaft before the hub was placed back into the carrier. Maybe I was wrong about that and should've fitted the bearing to the shaft before reassembly.
- fitted the new races into the hub carrier (both sides)
- fitted the new bearing into the race on the hub-side
- fitted the oil seal over the bearing on the hub-side
- placed the hub through the seal and into the wheel-side bearing
I've read it that the oil seal needs to be fitted to the wheel-side bearing before reassembly, meaning I couldn't have fitted the bearing directly to the shaft before the hub was placed back into the carrier. Maybe I was wrong about that and should've fitted the bearing to the shaft before reassembly.
Edited by LeeHodges on Saturday 8th September 16:19
Edited by LeeHodges on Saturday 8th September 16:40
Having just read the Sierra Manual just to refresh my memory of this Job. You should be able to hold the Drive flange in a vice and tap the hub onto it. If it’s really tight put the drive flange into the freezer for a while this will shrink it very slightly but should help to get it onto the bearing.
chris52 said:
Having just read the Sierra Manual just to refresh my memory of this Job. You should be able to hold the Drive flange in a vice and tap the hub onto it. If it’s really tight put the drive flange into the freezer for a while this will shrink it very slightly but should help to get it onto the bearing.
Sounds like a plan, Chris. I'll stick the whole lot in to the freezer, next to those meals that the wife's made, which I stashed in the deep freeze to avoid eating... 
Understandable, but the issue I've now got is that the hub shaft is stuck onto the bearing and separating the two will likely damage the oil seal on the way out. I've put the whole lot the freezer as I've got nothing to lose. I guess that the worse case scenario is it still won't on and I'll have to force them apart and get a new seal. Unless the bearing gets damaged too and that'll be a new race/bearing/seal. Oh well.
Sardonicus said:
Just find a local workshop with an hyd press if someone came into me with this I wouldn't even charge them it takes seconds , this can be assembled usually with nothing more than a large socket bit of timber and a hammer TBH but a press is easier
As above, I've just had this same job done with a press, I didn't have the balls (excuse the pun) to bash the hubs in with a hammer and woodGassing Station | Griffith | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff