Pressing bearings into a wheel rim

topic posted Tue, July 1, 2008 - 4:40 PM by  Eric
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After three years on the playa my vehicle blew the bearings on the front wheel. It tore up the rim and messed up the spindle.

I got all of the replacement parts but I'm trying to figure out how to get the bearings into the rim- it's a tight fit. I tried to hammer one in but ruined the $8 bearing :-(

Does anyone have a suggestion for a home rig? I live near the Mission in SF if anyone has the right gear for this and can help me out.

Thanks,

Eric
posted by:
Eric
SF Bay Area
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  • Re: Pressing bearings into a wheel rim

    Tue, July 1, 2008 - 11:08 PM
    one think that I found out is my tool chest is full of different bearing presses... sockets

    I use different sockets that will just fit around the edge of a race... or what ever I am pressing out... and then hammer on that....

    or try the following... heat the outside in an oven.... and put the bearing in the freezer... the shinkage and expansion difference will allow the bearing to just slip in/on with no effort...

    work quick cause things heat and cool quickly and you need to get them in place before it gets stuck...

    my .0002cents worth
  • Re: Pressing bearings into a wheel rim

    Wed, July 2, 2008 - 8:38 AM
    You could run a piece of threaded rod through the center and tighten the nuts on each end to pull everything together. Use big washers or other spacers to make sure that everything is pushing in the right place. (The socket recommendation above can be quite handy.)
  • Re: Pressing bearings into a wheel rim

    Thu, July 3, 2008 - 6:57 PM
    Some hubs are quite tight - you really need a press. A socket and threaded rod as someone suggested will
    often work, but you can also remove the hub and visit someone w/ a press - most auto machine shops can
    do this for you pretty cheaply.
  • Re: Pressing bearings into a wheel rim

    Fri, July 4, 2008 - 12:13 AM
    i'm not clear as to your question.

    to get the bearings into the rim, doesn't make sense. if you mean the bearing "race" into the hub, then it helps to taper the lip of the race to help start the race into the wheel hub. make double sure both hub and race are squeaky clean.

    as others have already said, freeze the bearing race and heat the hub with anything. if you clean off all the grease from the hub you can use an oven, a blow torch, a propane plumbers torch, mapp gas, letting it sit in the sun for an hour or more. it really helps. good luck.

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