Wheel bearing replacement — learn to press it out or just order the whole hub?

[way2blu]

In trying to find the motor mount looseness causing bad sounds in my MR2, I discovered it’s got some play in the left back wheel. The right side is solid.

Old Ryleigh’s Car Components has compatible bearings, but it’s not the whole hub assembly. That means I’d have to press out the (32 year) old bearing and press in the new one.

I could get a new hub assembly online, but that’s more expensive. Also, I have free time this weekend and wanna wrench NOW hahahha.

They do have tool rentals for that job, and I do have an appetite for learning. Should I do it the hard way (rent the press and replace the bearing) or just order a full hub assembly? I’ve never done either job, so I’m curious to hear the pros and cons of each.

[Qaaaaa]

@way2blu hub assembly as in the entire upright/knuckle/whatever you want to call it with bearing, hub, and ball joints or hub assembly as in new bearing and hub?

Frankly, unless the upright is bent, just get a new bearing. Remove the upright assembly and take it to a machine shop or mechanic and have them press in the new bearing if you don’t have a press.

I had to beat, burn, and blast with penetrating oil the wheel bearing circlip on my civic for a good half hour to get it free of 20 years of rust. Eventually, I won. You, being in California, probably have the luxury of not needing to contend with rusty parts like we do in the midwest. Revel in it.

[HammerheadFistpunch]

@way2blu I've had no problem doing my own bearings on the Land Cruiser or trailer hubs. I've never needed a press, I just get the bearing driver rental kit from Orielly and bang the old bearing out with a brass drift and bang the new one in with the bearing driver. Freeze the bearing and heat the hub and you may not even need to use force.

Looking at the process video online, it may require a press.

[Urambo Tauro]

@way2blu For me, I think the choice would depend on how rusty things are, and how much more expensive the assembly is.

[SilentbutnotreallyDeadly]

@way2blu
Knowing that you have the back-up of a hub assembly if things go pear shaped...I'd give the bearing replacement a whack.

Just make sure you know what you are doing as I can assure you that putting a wheel bearing in backwards is... frustrating.

[Zaphod's Heart of Gold]

@way2blu pressing in bearings isn't that hard but I do have the luxury of shop presses at my disposal.

I'm doing a set for the backup knuckles for the race van tomorrow. This is looking like a once-a-race thing now so I have some practice

[Qaaaaa]

@HammerheadFistpunch sealed bearings or tapered roller bearings like you can set lash with? I’ve never been able to hammer out the sealed style. Usually knock the hub and outer race out with a hammer so I can get the whole thing in a press though

I also forgot that there’s cars where the hub is in the bearing is in a carrier which bolts to the upright, a la Subaru, so it’d make sense to get the assembly if a press isn’t accessible.

[HammerheadFistpunch]

@Qaaaaa Taper roller. I can see how sealed units would suck. I've had to do it on bikes and you do have to use some kind of press.

[pip bip]

@way2blu just do the bearing