Front bearing replacement

[leftover]

I just got all my parts for replacing the front bearings.  I saw a post somewhere which I can't find now where the parts were listed for SKF and a few others.  I got all my pieces from Timken, except the O-ring, which was gotten at the CAT dealer.

Here are the Timken numbers: Bearings and race  - Set26(2 per side)
                                           Inner seal(CV side) - 3942
                                           Outer seal(wheel)  - 3553
This number is from the CAT dealer: O-Ring(assy to knuckle) - 5P-2931, they said any CAT dealer should be able to get it.  If you have trouble getting it let me know and my local dealer might be able to help.

Anyway, my 12-ton press is pressing and parts are here, so hopefully my next days off I will have my front bearings pressed out, and the new ones pressed in.

Then on to the steering replacement.  Already have the pitman arm, idler arm, tie rod ends, sway bar bushings, end link kits, upper and lower ball joints, upper and lower control arm bushings.

[IowaEagle]

Thanks for the O-ring number.  Do you have the O-ring dimensions?

[leftover]

I'll have to mic it when I go to work Monday.  I lost the paper I had written the dimensions for it on.

[IowaEagle]

Thanks for doing that Leftover.  That way folks can source them from other outlets.  Maybe I can find a bunch of them for the store.

[leftover]

OK.  Dimensions:  Cross-section    -   .07"
                         Inside diameter - 3.24"

Hope this helps.

David

[IowaEagle]

That should help.  I will research that tonight.  Thanks.  Eggs your way.

[Bird-o-Prey]

Is awheel bearing replacement someting one could do at home in a garage without a bazillion tonne press??  I remember drifting in bearind races for my VW with a flat piece of steel and a 2lb massager.  Just curious.

[bigdog56e]

bop,
       The front wheel bearings have to presssed off and on carefully so as not to damage hub, your press should be able to handle it. Just take your time doing it.
                                                                                Eddie

[Bird-o-Prey]

Again, a silly question, but, is it onle the bearing races that need to pressed in or the whole kit and kaboodle.  I have not seriously looked at the hub about this.

Thanks

[leftover]

Doggone it!  Now I have to learn to use a digital camera, and how to post pictures with it.

I will try to get pictures as I do the passenger side.

David

[leftover]

Hub devoid of all the old stuff.


Lubed with new outer seal in place.


Pressing the outer bearing down until even with end of hub.


Setting the bearing splitter width to drive the bearing down past the end of the hub shaft.


Pressing the bearing down past the end.


More spacing needed to get it all the way to the bottom.  Note the black dies have a notch in one edge to alow them to give a center hole.

[leftover]

hub outer bearing in place the hub body awaiting placement and seal pressed into position.  Note under the hub body the bearing driver set, these made it easy to drive the races into the hub body and are a rental tool at some parts stores.


Here I am using the press to hold everything in position while I use a screwdriver to press the seal into the hub body.  If it isn't held into place it keeps popping out around the circumference.


The inner bearing well packed ready to get pressed into place.  Pack, pack, pack, once this thing is together no zerks to relube it with.  Although do not overpack it.  Yes, I do like that green grease.  I used it in military equipment and it lasts through water fordings quite well.  It doesn't stop needing to repack bearings, it just doesn't wash out and dilute as readily as the other greases(my experience, YMMV).


Inner bearing pressed down even with hub end.


Here we go again pressing past the hub end with the bearing splitter.


Inner bearing pressed into position.


Spacer in place, ready for inner seal.

[leftover]

The o-ring.  This is the one I ordered from my local CAT dealer.  The one that Doug is getting for the Nest Store, I would recommend.  If I had only known .  The dimensions looked the same as what I got, but the material is a higher grade.  Oh well, wishes and fishes, no fries.


Inner seal on the steering knuckle.


Ready to go together.


At this point you are being careful not to pinch the o-ring while inserting the hub assembly into the knuckle, and at the same time trying to get the holes into alignment, as close as possible.


Bolts ready to torque down, OOPS, except for forgetting the backing plate goes in between the two pieces here(Yes, I showed the booboo, because even though I have done these for a number years, I still messed up and forgot, which is easy to do).


All ready to reinstall on the ball joints.

It took me longer to take the pictures and make this post than the job took.  Once I had the knuckle off the ball joints it took me an hour to disassemble the hub assembly, press it all apart, pack the bearings, drive everything back together and torque the three bolts into place holding the hub assembly in the knuckle.

A quick easy job, with the right tools.  I have done this without a press, not recommended, as it is very easy to get things a little off angle then you mess up a bearing or the hub.

Hope this helps someone,
David

[IowaEagle]

Excellent write up.  A couple of eggs coming your way.

[andyb]

WOW, excellent timing!  I'm just about to start on this, thank you very much for the pic's, you made my day