Rear Wheel Bearing Replacement

JodyStevens · Post by **JodyStevens** » Thu Jul 17, 2014 11:29 am

I am about to send my rear trailing arms to be powdercoated and I would like to pull the bearings and install new ones before I put the RTAs on the car.

I searched and found a few threads but no one really detailed the process, does anyone have any experience or comments about replacing these bearings?

Perhaps I will do a quick write up when I do mine so others can have something to follow.

Sog · Post by **Sog** » Thu Jul 17, 2014 1:45 pm

Thought this might help http://www.malloc.nl/BMW/635CSi/pages/e ... l#refertoc, but not sure. Been watching your progress on the thread over on mye28. Nice progress!

JodyStevens · Post by **JodyStevens** » Thu Jul 17, 2014 4:04 pm

Thanks! That is helpful

Its a slow work in progress but its coming along nicely:)

T.Hanson · Post by **T.Hanson** » Fri Jul 18, 2014 8:19 am

I hope all six of those in my cars continue to rotate quietly and smoothly. Before I will fool with all of those special tools and measurements, shims, a rear wheel will have to screech, smoke, catch fire, bust off and head for the ditch.

JodyStevens · Post by **JodyStevens** » Fri Jul 18, 2014 10:28 am

Hahaha

The fronts are much easier, you could do both in an afternoon with time left over. Those rears though, I cringe when I look at them...

KenB · Post by **KenB** » Fri Jul 18, 2014 12:13 pm

I've done this a couple of times and it's not so bad, really. Having an impact wrench for the 36mm nut helps. Other than that, straightforward, no special tools really necessary.

Take heart.

KenB

T.Hanson · Post by **T.Hanson** » Sat Jul 19, 2014 12:39 am

Only replying to replies pretending to be bench racing in the clubhouse.

I admire those who accept any repair as just another, " To do," on the list. Logically, if a shop tech person can do it, it's humanly possible. But for this human, me, there are items on the list that go straight to $$$, paying to have done.

Tools being one factor. Buying a lathe, bench press, hoist, welder, paying the rent on the shop to house them. For one head rebuild ? Buying the (special) tools to remove bearings the factory recommended way. No, I'll use a chisel, hammer, hardware store torch, put everything back together,...and hope the twenty hours of work doesn't make different crunchy noises.

And,...unless it's a 180,000 mile car or driven daily in a swamp, what is the life expectancy of the rear axle bearings ? Are they obviously worn, making noise,...reason for jacking, hitting, prying, pounding, heating, fitting squeezing ?

I'm dumb enough to spin, rotate, listen, feel. Good, put it back together. Bad, take it to Al's fully equipped shop, with his experience.

JodyStevens · Post by **JodyStevens** » Sun Jul 20, 2014 9:09 am

Well I have the arm completely off the car, hub is removed as well as everything else. It's basically the arm with the bearings in it. I'll have a go at it if I can find replacement bearings for them. Any ideas?

I'm not doing it because they are broken or anything, but I have the car apart and am having them powdercoated. The heat will probably affect the bearings negatively and rather than chance it I would rather replace them. Plus this car will be driven hard and rather than wait until they are broken, I'd rather just do it now. It's not a dd and has been laid up for the past two years being restored/modified. Engine is almost done, and besides the machine work I've rebuilt it myself.

KenB · Post by **KenB** » Sun Jul 20, 2014 3:09 pm

Yeah, if it's out put fresh bearings in, good idea.

Just spin the 36mm(?) nut off, knock the bearings out, tap in new, the end.

Where to buy? The usual suspects. I'd be amazed if Mesa Performance couldn't get you some, for example.

KenB

JodyStevens · Post by **JodyStevens** » Sun Jul 20, 2014 7:18 pm

Okay so tonight I popped the seals out of either side. That exposes each bearing. So I tried driving them out the same side, do they come out each end or can they be driven out the same end.

JodyStevens · Post by **JodyStevens** » Sun Jul 20, 2014 8:12 pm

Ok, I looked at the link above and I see that each bearing has to go out its respective end. Makes sense since one bearing is bigger/wider than the other.

JodyStevens · Post by **JodyStevens** » Mon Jul 21, 2014 6:24 pm

I drove the bearings out tonight, it was so easy, I don't understand all the hesitation. I had them off the car and it took maybe 5 minutes to knock the bearings out and they didn't even get damaged. Some pictures for future bearing changers.

The order:

Everything from inside:

KenB · Post by **KenB** » Mon Jul 21, 2014 11:03 pm

Well done. That's what I'm talkin' about!

KenB