Front Wheel Bearings

[jzignig]

Hey guys, i don't mean to fill the board with already discussed topics, but i couldn't really find anything on FRONT bearings, always rear.

I knew my bearings were going to need replaced soon, and i cant afford a mechanic to take care of it even though im busy enough as it is.

I know ill need the bearings pressed in if i don't get the assemblies...But how can i go about this without having to have a shop press the bearings? If there is a way.

I'm ok with spending a little more for assemblies to do it myself because i like the experience, plus if i could get more than just the bearings replaced for a little less than having a mechanic do it why not.

Thank you,

Jzig.

[Airgne]

well you can remove the assembly and take the assembly(with new bearing) to a napa and have them press it. it should not be that much. the 2nd gen has a hub style not a spindle style. should be 4 bolts holding it to the suspension. take the 4 bolts off and remove.

[jamal]

it's really nice to have the service tool which is just a slide hammer and a threaded rod with some properly sized press tools. It takes like 30min a side on the car vs the huge pain of taking them off and bringing them to get pressed in and out somewhere, which the act of doing is also a pain in the ass on a generic press.

Just taking off the uprights generally sucks on an older car, especially if you want to do it without destroying the balljoint.

[jzignig]

thanks for the help guys.

I was away this past week so i couldnt even check up.

ill prolly just do what airgne suggested.

Ive found the cheapest set of front bearings and seals for both sides for 120... anyone know where i could get a pair cheaper?

[Grafton]

where was that i paid 100 for just one side @ the stealership today grrr damn not able to have any down time to wait on shipping

[jzignig]

The Kits i found were from Pelham Auto parts... they might have a website but this was through ebay... been in business for 30 years though so i guess they were pretty reputable.

To both of our shitty luck, however, they just sold out 2 days ago... FML.

I dont even remember the next cheapest i found and i think it was for around 180...

I hate bearings. They always go out of nowhere and they cost a small fortune. I just paid another semester of school.

and now the Subies killin me.

[valkura]

I think I spent a total of about $110 for my bearings, both fronts. $85 or so at Autozone (online), and then another $25 or so at NAPA (I didn't realize the seals didn't come with the bearings .-. but they had the seals in the store).

[evolegacy]

oddly enough im doing my front wheel bearing on my GT as well, just 1 though not both. I payed $40 for the bearing, $6 for the inner seal and $7 for the outer, after tax it was $56.28 at pepboys (normally dont go there but they were the only ones who had the parts)

dont forget to get spindle lock nuts as well, OEM suggests replacing them every time you remove them

[jzignig]

Thanks for the nut tip... as awkward as that is. haha

Yeah im thinking that might be my cheapest way to go now that that stores out.

Anyone have an opinion on brands?

I saw quite a few when i was searching. any significance?

[jzignig]

Also any other place to press besides napa?

The napa's around me dont do shit...

Any idea on a price too? cause id like to get a grand total going here.

Thanks again.

[evolegacy]

ya none of the napa's near me do anything either (total crap but watev), im going to try pressing the bearing in myself, when the other bearing was done it only required about 500lbs of force, so i got a bunch of weights in my basement that can easily make that amount. dunno how im getting the old one out though >.>. if it works I'll let you know how I did it. As for brand, i have no preference i just found the cheapest.

[jzignig]

haha your methods seem like ones that i would use.


Are you sure about the 500lbs?

I mean i read up about the rears taking over 10,000 lbs to press out.

I cant imagine theres that big of a difference.

Idk, i mean better to try than give a shop your gas money. Let me know then! haha

[evolegacy]

where did you read that it takes 5 tons to pop out a bearing?????

[jzignig]

I don't remember. It was some other forums.

It doesn't really make sense... but i never worked with anything in the suspension and axle region before except for coils and strut work.


I looked at the thread you started yourself.... i might have to check out the tools at autozone... hopefully mine can get them for me. And hopefully they arent a super bitch to get out... Im sick of sounding like a damn barn fan cruising down the highway. haha

[Grafton]

well you can always find a local machine shop that has a press and they should have a set fee for pressing the bearing in and out

[evolegacy]

still looking for a shop to do it for me >.> apparently its not a common issue to lose a wheel bearing, so almost none of the shops round here have a press >.>

[jzignig]

I picked up the tools and goodies at advanced auto yesterday.

Grand total including bearings, seals, and tools to do it was $194.69

Ill keep posted on how these little slide hammers and threaded presses work.

Like whoever said in the other thread, as long as you bring the part back they give you full value back.

so as long as this goes like it should it should only cost 105 bucks.

good shiat!

[jzignig]

so for those of you who were wondering. leggy gt's are NOT meant to have their wheel bearings done by using the universal service tools such as slide hammers and spreading tools from autozone, advance, etc.

The initial taking off of the spindle and everything is definitely an at home capable job for the mechanically inclined. The bearings, however, will need to be pressed. Dont bother trying home methods, you will more than likely do more harm than good. AND, just a little hint. 10 tons may not do it. My buddy works for cummins deisel, he took the bearings and junk with him to work to take care of it for me. He said the 10 ton press had trouble with it. so he had to move up to the 50 ton.

Also, you may want to consider replacing most of the other wear prone parts depending on your mileage while youre in there.

I personally took care of the cv joints, which the boots were shot so i just bought whole new axles.
As well as all the ball joints, and the tie rod boots as well. I also replaced all the hardware.

the bearings were, of course, replaced as well.

Grand total for this wonderfully bitter sweet, shitty but money saving project: 300 bucks within the dollar.

Wonderfully enough though, every front end component of my car is now pretty much brand new, and it sounds beautiful. no hum, no thuds, no grinding, no rubbing. just like it should be. I also lost a little bit of sway in the car too because of the tune up.

Hope this helps someone else who thinks the bearings are simple.

Have fun=)

[evolegacy]

i didnt have that much trouble with the passenger side bearing back when i did that one. Slipped off the knuckle pretty easy, walked next door to the mechanic thats next to our race shop, pressed it in and installed the knuckle back on for me, other than the $60 for the bearing and seals, it only ran me $100 for the labor (expensive but not unsual since it was in the cape ^^)

Driver side was givin me issues for the last 2 weeks and i finally said screw it and dropped it off at the family mechanic this morning. BUT he likes to fix EVERYTHING he sees wrong >.>.....so along with the bearing he's probably gonna replace the ball joint, the tie rod boot, the Inner CV Boot on the driver side, and if he looks on the passenger side, the inner CV Boot on that side as well. Mum's givin me a hand with paying for it but i still have to pay her back down the road, so eventually this is gonna cost me an arm and a leg.....ugh.....can only imagine what this is gonna run me >.>.

[hellaGT]

so for those of you who were wondering. leggy gt's are NOT meant to have their wheel bearings done by using the universal service tools such as slide hammers and spreading tools from autozone, advance, etc.

The initial taking off of the spindle and everything is definitely an at home capable job for the mechanically inclined. The bearings, however, will need to be pressed. Dont bother trying home methods, you will more than likely do more harm than good. AND, just a little hint. 10 tons may not do it. My buddy works for cummins deisel, he took the bearings and junk with him to work to take care of it for me. He said the 10 ton press had trouble with it. so he had to move up to the 50 ton.

Also, you may want to consider replacing most of the other wear prone parts depending on your mileage while youre in there.

I personally took care of the cv joints, which the boots were shot so i just bought whole new axles.
As well as all the ball joints, and the tie rod boots as well. I also replaced all the hardware.

the bearings were, of course, replaced as well.

Grand total for this wonderfully bitter sweet, shitty but money saving project: 300 bucks within the dollar.

Wonderfully enough though, every front end component of my car is now pretty much brand new, and it sounds beautiful. no hum, no thuds, no grinding, no rubbing. just like it should be. I also lost a little bit of sway in the car too because of the tune up.

Hope this helps someone else who thinks the bearings are simple.

Have fun=)

Dang... I was just about to pick up a new wheel bearing and the press tool at Kregan to do the driver side bearing myself... I too sound like a barn fan on highway 80.

So the point is to take off the hub with the old bearing and take it to a mechanic/ machine press? Then change all the seals yerself and put newly pressed bearing back on. Just reached 170,000mi... been a great car

[impreza_GC8]

Those bearings are really in there quite good. When I did mine we had to cut the bearing out with a torch. I hope to never have to do another wheel bearing ever again.