Rear bearings and seals

[Big Blue]

I am starting to get some nice oil stains on my rear rims. Time to do the bearings and seals.

Has anyone got any advice on the replacement of rear wheel bearings and seals? Any tricks to consider?

Do I have to get the bearing races pressed onto the axle at a machine shop?

Any help or tricks to consider would be appreciated.

[hudson44]

Don't quote me but i'm pretty sure you will need a press.

[NJV6]

Don't quote me but i'm pretty sure you will need a press.

Yes, you will.....

[sjjenkin]

na you shouldent i got mine out and just taped them back in just make sure you go in a surcurler motion until it sounds like its in

[Pharb]

Gen 1 or 2???

When I did my Gen 1 bearings (whilst rebuilding the diff) the were straight forward, single taper roller bearing on each side.
Just did the bearings on my Gen 2 and what a prick of a job.
Biggest problem is I could not get enough purchase on the hub to hold it whilst pressing the bearings off.
The bearings are a double row (unadjustable) tapered roller on each side.
I ended up useing the hot spanner to cut notches in the races to drop the rollers out and then heating, notching and pressing the inner race out. It was ...... tight.
Reassembly was straight forward, except they were still extremely tight to press back together. One big fella on the end of the 20 tonne press handle whilst I guided everything together and he still struggled to get it home.

The biggest problem with this is you can't get the the backing plate off the hub until you remove the axle from the hub. Big problem if you only want to replace a seal. Have to destroy the bearing to get to the seal. (about $100 for each kit consisting of inner and outer seals and 1 bearing, 1 kit per side)

Now that I have done the bearings I still have a noise there. Appears to be a bent axle.


Any one know how you bend an axle on a Gen 2(.5, the big diff model)????

Peter H

[sjjenkin]

how stupid of me mines a gen 1 and a mate said they would be a bitch but he must have been thinking of the gen 2

[Alex Kogan]

Few years back I broke/replace axle shaft in my 92. You don't need to destroy bearings though. There is a retaining ring which holds bearings to axle shaft it has to be ground off using angle grinder and replaced with new one at reassembly. You indeed need a good press to fit it back together. Actually shop manual calls for one which allows monitoring of amount of force applied. Unless it reaches 10t - retainer is no good. Here are a few picks I took
http://monterorider.tripod.com/offroad/axleshaft/

[Pharb]

Maybe mine was just TIGHT. Having replaced numerous press fit bearing over the years there was now way a few bits of angle iron and all-thread were going to move the bearings on mine.

Peter H

[J Top]

I have done a few gen 2 rear axle bearings now and they are tough. The dealers dont want to know about pressing them off and the factory tool, which looks like a diff tube and bolts to the axle retaining bolts, just snaps the axle retaining bolts. I would be wary of grinding a collar off next to a bearing and reusing that bearing
J Top

[Pharb]

I thought about making an adapter to bolt to the hub bolts but after finding how tight one was I was scared I'd break the bolts on the other side doing that.

Peter H

[Big Blue]

Thanks for all the info guys. I actually have a GEN-1 (89 - NG).

I rang one of the local 4WD workshops that do a bit of Pajero work. They indicated pressing would be required. Guess I'll find out soon. Bearing kits have arrived.

If need be, I have a shop on stand-by to do the pressing.

[sjjenkin]

well it just gose to show make sure you put the model of ur car down or you will get lots of diferent ansers. na shouldent need the press i dident and worked just fine