question re: wheel bearing replacement

[Brendan-s]

If I pull the axle, is there a seal to prevent oil running out the end of the diff housing or do I drain the diff first?

edit: 88 WT Sierra

[Hybrid]

Just replace one side at a time with the one your working on jacked up. The oil will drain to the other end. No need to drain it.

[Brendan-s]

Hmm. I was planning on pulling all 4 axles and taking them to mech to press bearings off and on. Might just drain the diffs, they've had about 10k km since last change anyway.

PS Thanks for the quick reply

[want33s]

The bearings will have to be pressed off and back onto the REAR axles but not the front.
You don't pull the front axles to do wheel bearings.
You'll need a pin punch to knock the shells out of the hubs.
You'll work it out when you start pulling it apart.
www.suzukiinfo.com

[Brendan-s]

Thanks mate, a wealth of knowledge as always!!!

[Mudzuki]

Most rear wheel bearings will have to be removed with a grinder/chisel combo.

When i had my rears done as part of a brake service, they rang me and told me they were unable to remove the rear wheel bearings, until i told them to cut them off.

[want33s]

Most rear wheel bearings will have to be removed with a grinder/chisel combo.

When i had my rears done as part of a brake service, they rang me and told me they were unable to remove the rear wheel bearings, until i told them to cut them off.

I'd find another mechanic if I were you.
I don't cut bearings or lock ring off axles.
In www.suzukiinfo.com you'll find the same setup I use. A 3 jawed puller with chains to extend it to desired length to remove lock ring and bearing and a press to refit them.
Use the correct tools and its quite easy.

[suzuki boy]

I have just finished my rears!

You will need a slide hamer to get the 2 rear axels out! We ground off the old ones only because we didn't have a bearing press handy....... Then to put the bearing on we used the right size seel pipe and slid it up and down to push the bearing to the bettom then put the retainer ring on the same way!

I used to do front bearings all the time there not hard at all you just need the big socket for the retainer nut thingy.......

[Brendan-s]

All finished, nice and easy job, the hardest part was putting the circlips back on the front axles as they had ~5mm to move in and out!

I don't cut bearings or lock ring off axles.

The manual I downloaded off suzinfo.com actually states (and has a diagram of) you have to cut the retaining ring off with a grinder. Didn't have one handy so I went and saw Liam at BBMotorsport who did it for me (thanks dude, big plug for BBM )

Zook rolls sweet as now, definitely a job worth doing!

[Brendan-s]

I used to do front bearings all the time there not hard at all you just need the big socket for the retainer nut thingy.......

Yep 100% right they're as easy as greasing the bearings on a pushy!!

[want33s]

All finished, nice and easy job, the hardest part was putting the circlips back on the front axles as they had ~5mm to move in and out!

I don't cut bearings or lock ring off axles.

The manual I downloaded off suzinfo.com actually states (and has a diagram of) you have to cut the retaining ring off with a grinder. Didn't have one handy so I went and saw Liam at BBMotorsport who did it for me (thanks dude, big plug for BBM )

Zook rolls sweet as now, definitely a job worth doing!

To stop the axle pushing in, screw one of the hub bolts in so you can steady it.
I must have been hallucinating when I saw this IN THE FSM.

[Moph]

noob question ... how do ya know when bearings need replacing? squeaks?

[fool_injected]

Just take the sump plugs out you lazy sod

[suzuki boy]

To behounust i didn't know my rears where gone it was only that the rear axel seal was leaking!

BUT you can ussually tell by shaking the wheel should have a LITTLE bit of movement but if it has a bit(You can tell) then there probably stuffed!

[fool_injected]

I worked in a electric motor rewind shop for a short while
We did a lot of motors from of the docks which were in a bad state from the salt
Often the bearings would completely collapse chewing out the inner race making it imposable to press off
A neat trick we used to use was to run a weld down the bearing surface and douse it straight away in water
The race would crack and most of the time just slide off

[Brendan-s]

I must have been hallucinating when I saw this IN THE FSM.

Note I said 'retaining ring'...



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