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73-87 Chevy _ GMC Trucks => Brakes, Frame, Steering & Suspension => Topic started by: SUX2BU99 on August 27, 2013, 06:21:51 pm

Title: Wheel bearing replacement, can I do it at home?
Post by: SUX2BU99 on August 27, 2013, 06:21:51 pm
Title says it all. 2wd C10. Right front bearing is bad I believe. Can I replace it myself or do I have to have a shop do it? Bearing is pressed into the rotor, right?
Title: Re: Wheel bearing replacement, can I do it at home?
Post by: zieg85 on August 27, 2013, 06:39:03 pm
Piece of cake.  A punch with a flat bottom is all you need to remove the race.  Once it is out you use the old race upside down to drive in the new one.  Light taps all the way around, easy peasy...
Title: Re: Wheel bearing replacement, can I do it at home?
Post by: jaredts on August 27, 2013, 08:42:58 pm
Or just get new rotors with races already in them.
Title: Re: Wheel bearing replacement, can I do it at home?
Post by: ehjorten on August 28, 2013, 01:59:25 pm
Bearings drops right out.  The races should be replaced with a matched set for the new bearings.  To remove the races, you need a good brass drift and a hammer.  I get my brass drifts from NAPA.  There is generally 2 notches in the hub that allow you to get behind the race and drive it out.  Hammer a little on one side, hammer a little on the other.  You want to drive it out 'square' and not wedge it over on one side.  To put the new race in you basically reverse the process.  It helps to use the old race to get it started, but unless you grind down the outer diameter of the old race you don't want to use it to drive the new race all the way in.  Then you will have 2 races pressed in there.

If the race is loose in the hub, you can get a new hub or you can peen the hub's race surface with a hammer and a center-punch.  Do it all over and then you can put some bearing locktight on the surface and drive the race in.  I have done this several times with no issues of the race spinning.

Like other people have said...if you are un-sure of doing it you can take the hub and bearings to a machine shop and they will do it for you.  I did that on my 14 bolt hubs because I didn't have the proper tools to get the darn snap-ring out fo that deep hole!
Title: Re: Wheel bearing replacement, can I do it at home?
Post by: SUX2BU99 on August 28, 2013, 02:54:33 pm
Thanks guys, great info there. I'd much rather do it myself than take anything to a shop.