Notice: We request that you don't just set up a new account at this time if you are a previous user.
If you used to be one of our moderators, please feel free to reach out to Chris via the facebook Outerlimits4x4 group and he will get you set back up with access should he need you.
Recovery:If you cannot access your old email address and don't remember your password, please click here to log a change of email address so you can do a password reset.

Vitara Front Wheel Bearings

Tech Talk for Suzuki owners.

Moderators: lay80n, sierrajim

Post Reply
Posts: 78
Joined: Tue Jul 19, 2005 10:12 am
Location: Newcastle, Australia

Vitara Front Wheel Bearings

Post by Goldey »

Can someone please tell me how they have replaced their front wheel bearings on their Vit's. They have a you beaut special nut that requires a special Suzuki only tool that retails for ...........wait for it!!!!!! $220 :bad-words: :bad-words:

My drivers side wheel has a slight wobble from top to bottom and the passengers side is fine at the moment, but have decided to replace both sides as a matter of insurance. The only thing is as this is my daily driver as well I don't want to get half way through the job and find I can't get the :bad-words: :bad-words: :bad-words: bearing nut undone.

What have some of you guys done in the past?

Thanks in advance

Goldey
98 Discovery 300 tdi, XD9000 (on garage floor awaiting suitable bullbar), soon to be 3 inch suspension lift and 1 inch body lift, 31" Maxxis muds, custom drawers
Posts: 102
Joined: Sun Apr 16, 2006 10:42 pm
Location: Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

Post by rodw »

Goldey,

I think most people just use a cold chisel or punch. I did my bearings and got one off by puting a couple of phillips screwdrivers in the holes and turning with a lever, but the other would not budge. When I looked, somebody had been there before me with a cold chisel, so I followed their lead. You can't set to the right torque when you do them up, but if you make sure they are tight and turn without any binding, you should be fine... Did mine 18 months ago, no probs since...

You'll need somebody with a press to get the bearing races off. Just take the hubs to a garage and ask them to press off the old ones and press the new ones on.
RodW
2007 SR Diesel Dual cab
Posts: 121
Joined: Fri Jul 28, 2006 10:17 pm
Location: Riverton

Post by rosie »

I've been looking at this too. I replaced my passenger one and they both have slight wobble. I was told that my hubs have probally streched and need replacing. Does this sound correnct and if so if it really dangerous?

How tight do you usually need to do the Vitara hubs up? Suzuki told me that they use a large bar on the special tool and have to apply a bit of pressure to tighten them.

Also, I needed a good quality press to get mine out as they have a tapered housing that was a bugger to use.

Thanks, Ben
Donning the Zook called Tara
Posts: 102
Joined: Sun Apr 16, 2006 10:42 pm
Location: Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

Post by rodw »

You should be tight enought that there is no wobble, but still be able to rotate the wheel by hand without feeling any binding. It probably should not spin freely.
RodW
2007 SR Diesel Dual cab
Posts: 78
Joined: Tue Jul 19, 2005 10:12 am
Location: Newcastle, Australia

Post by Goldey »

Well, got the drivers side hub off last night. The bearing nut was a piece of piss to get off. Now for the really difficult part. Getting the old outer race out of the hub....hhhmmmm.

Have brought it into work and a guy is laying down some weld on one of the race faces so we can get some purchase for the press to push on. Another option I had not considered was using the old inner race and bearing cage to push on. This would probably bugger the inner race, but who cares, they're being replaced by new anyway. Either way should have the hub back on this arvo.

Another question, when I removed the freewheel hub I noticed the inner cup seems to be a bit slack and wobbly, ie like there's a bearing in the freewheel part that's shagged. Is this normal and does it tighten up somehow when the hubs are locked?? Have previously only owned a full time 4wd, so freewheeling hubs are new ground for me.

Also the drive shaft seemed to have a bit of play in it coming through from the bottom strut mount to the back of the hub. I assume this will tighten up once I get the new bearings back in and preload them properly with the nut.

Thanks guys

Goldey
98 Discovery 300 tdi, XD9000 (on garage floor awaiting suitable bullbar), soon to be 3 inch suspension lift and 1 inch body lift, 31" Maxxis muds, custom drawers
Posts: 72
Joined: Fri May 21, 2004 3:14 pm
Location: Sydney

Post by treebruiser »

lay some weld on the race face and it should just tap out............... it worked for me.
flog the ring out of it
Posts: 78
Joined: Tue Jul 19, 2005 10:12 am
Location: Newcastle, Australia

Post by Goldey »

Well, after a few welds layed on the race face and acouple of taps out she came. New one has been pressed in, just got to reassemble this arvo and take the passenger side one out and do the same again.

Thanks Guys
98 Discovery 300 tdi, XD9000 (on garage floor awaiting suitable bullbar), soon to be 3 inch suspension lift and 1 inch body lift, 31" Maxxis muds, custom drawers
Posts: 217
Joined: Thu Nov 30, 2006 12:33 pm
Location: Woodford

Post by FullbackNo1 »

that is how i did mine put a weld on it the hit it out with a punch
Suzuki Vitara Ute,Tube Tray

Thanks To Dale 2DEXTREME www.2dextremefabrications.com.au
Post Reply

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 3 guests