Rear Hub Removal

[maxwoods]

I need to replace the rear outer bearing, which requires hub removal.

Does any one have any advice on how much force is required??

I have drilled a couple of holes in an old leaf spring, such that it fits onto the wheel studs. Will the hub come away with a few taps with a hammer, or does it require substantial force

Thanks

Max

[Willie]

There is only one bearing in each rear hub. The NEAR side nut
is a left hand thread! Make sure you have a new paper gasket and,
if yours is a later car, a new rubber sealing ring for the half shaft to
bearing housing joint. You must also renew the INNER oil seal. If it
has been leaking then try not seating the new one quite as far in
towards the diff as the old one was. This lets the oil seal run on an
unworn section of the rear axle. It is usually possible to prise the
hub off with two stout levers.

[maxwoods]

willie

thanks - discovered rumbling bearing whilst changing diff - lots of slop in bearing race and no amount of adjustment would clear it.

Have ordered kit from DSN - £11.00 for bearing, gasket, washer and new oil seal. Did not get as far as pulling hub off, as it was getting dark and cold. Job seems reasonably simple - was just a little concerned about pulling car off the axle stands if a strong force was required

max

[Willie]

MAX.... as you discovered there is NO adjustment possible on the
rear bearing. If you heard it rumbling then fair enough, but I have
always found play even when fitting a brand new bearing. You
should have no problems removing the housing but don't have
your legs under the car will you! ( the new bearing should protrude
by a few thou'of an inch so that it is firmly clamped when the half
shaft flange is refitted).

[les]

Just an additional point, which you may already be aware of, press the new bearing in with the pressure on the outer part.

[newagetraveller]

I use two tyre levers to get the rear hubs off.

Minimal effort is required.

The hard part is undoing the big nut that holds the bearing onto the axle casing. Sometimes I have to resort to a hammer and cold chisel to loosen them.

[maxwoods]

Job done!!

Bolted a bar with holes corresponding to stud centres onto hub, several taps with a lump hammer later and hub came cleanly away. Hardest part was removing the old oil seal - resorted to a blowlamp eventually.

Whole job took less than one hour.

Back of car is now substantially quieter.

Thanks everyone for your advice

Max

[fweddy]

Isin't it rewarding to get a job done easier than expected and it all goes well - Especially when you have done it yourself!

[Alec]

Hello all,
the old dodge was to remove the half shaft and, after removing the centre securing nut, is to reverse the half shaft and fit it to the hub with four (reversed) wheel nuts and tighten evenly. This method seemed to work very well and with little trouble.

Alec

[Scott]

The old dodge was to remove the half shaft and, after removing the centre securing nut, is to reverse the half shaft and fit it to the hub with four (reversed) wheel nuts and tighten evenly.

"Old dodge"
Still very much in use. In fact, it's about the only method that's used here .