Help,Hub Bearings:o

[oddbod]

Help,am I going mad??? I've pressed a new oil seal into my Hub,now I'm trying to reseat the bearing. I THOUGHT the Bearing should touch the seal,is this correct.At the minute the bearing is level with the Hub Face.Should the bearing be inside the Hub. I have tried 5tonne hydraulic press, I have Frozen the Bearing and heated the Hub and BATTERED the outer bearing Race.Still it will only sit flush with the Hub .I can only assume that this IS where it sits and not inside the Hub.This is the bearing I removed from this Hub so I cannot understand what is going on H
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[chrisryder]

Bearing flush with the face of the hub is correct. There is supposed to be a gap between bearing and seal.

[oddbod]

Thank you soooo much Chris,I have spent 4 hours over 2 days just hitting the bearing!!!!! How can the Oil Seal seal if there is a gap between the bearing and itself,to my mind that couldn't make sense. I KNOW you are right as there is no other explanation,I just fail to see how a seal could be achieved.

[bmcecosse]

Is the hub stepped - so the seal goes to an inner step, and the bearing to an outer (larger diameter) step? I don't know - because in all my years with Minors I have never had to fiddle with rear bearings or seals!

[oddbod]

Kind of I guess,it didn't seem that dramatic a "step" to me,but the bearing isn't close to touching the seal.BUT it is Flush with the Hub Face. Heres a couple of tips I picked up whilst doing this. Take off the Hub,turn so the studs are supported on a wooden block use a Tube,I used a Stunt Peg off a BMX bike cos I found one that fitted inside the Hub quite snugly,a thick block of wood across the tube,hold square Tap Smartly,done.When refitting new oil seal fit it WITHOUT the retaining Spring,closed side towards the car,dont use ANYTHING Sharp,turn the Hub over and the New seal should be Flush All around with the hub. ONLY then fit Spring FROM STUD side or spring can break. Now for the clever bit: No:1 son says "why not freeze the bearing,it'll shrink?then warm the Hub in the Oven "Gas Mark 2 30mins" it'll expand put the 2 together" I think he might be a genius cos its a thumb push fit when Bearing is Frozen. The Bearing now sits flush with the Hub Face,looking at it from the studs. Clean Bearing when its out, grease before Freezing.

[oddbod]

Oh yeah,put the Bearing in a couple of plastic bags before you put them in the freezer so thy dont get damp!!