Tools for changing wheel bearing

[Dessieb2022]

Hi everyone, just wondering what tool you recommend for changing a front wheel bearing on a Nissan Note? I'm not a mechanic but like to try and do things myself.. within reason. Would the bearing press kit be ok, I know it's for doing the job on the car but I'll probably take the knuckle off anyway for better access or do I need the hydraulic press?
I could take the bearing to a garage and have it pressed in but I'd rather have the satisfaction of doing the job myself.

 

[tom2207]

strip it all down and take it to someone with a press to do the pressing ,,, for a once every couple of years job , its just not worth buying the kit .

its like buying a defibrillator to keep in the car in case you dont feel well one day .

 

[Nomad]

A quick look found a guide on Yoo Tube ...

2 suggestions :

Take the hub off yourself then look for other guides online.
In the past I've used a home-made puller (threaded bar with large sockets) and/or punches to push random wheel bearings out. Maybe you don't need to buy a dedicated kit.

.. or.. take the hub off, take it and a new bearing kit to your local engineer and ask him to press out the old bearing and press in the new using his big press.
My local engineer has a 40 ton press and has very reasonable rates.

I'm all in favour of DIY but sometimes the sensible thing is to do the prep work yourself then find somebody with the right tool and let them do the difficult bit ... a lot depends if you think this is a job you will need to do again anytime soon or if it's so unusual it's not worth buying (and storing) a dedicated tool.


late note: somebody else typed similar just above as I was typing

 

[tom2207]

your in NI if your local I can get it sorted for ya ,

 

[Dessieb2022]

your in NI if your local I can get it sorted for ya ,

I am indeed, thank you for the kind offer but I'm up ballycastle direction so probably quite a bit away from you. Thanks for the reply too.
I know the sensible thing is to take the knuckle to a garage but just wondered what the mechanics on here thought of the hand tool kit as I like having a go myself.

 

[Dessieb2022]

A quick look found a guide on Yoo Tube ...

2 suggestions :

Take the hub off yourself then look for other guides online.
In the past I've used a home-made puller (threaded bar with large sockets) and/or punches to push random wheel bearings out. Maybe you don't need to buy a dedicated kit.

.. or.. take the hub off, take it and a new bearing kit to your local engineer and ask him to press out the old bearing and press in the new using his big press.
My local engineer has a 40 ton press and has very reasonable rates.

I'm all in favour of DIY but sometimes the sensible thing is to do the prep work yourself then find somebody with the right tool and let them do the difficult bit ... a lot depends if you think this is a job you will need to do again anytime soon or if it's so unusual it's not worth buying (and storing) a dedicated tool.


late note: somebody else typed similar just above as I was typing

Thanks for the reply, I have a bushing press type kit with the threaded bars. I used it for subframe bushes but not sure if the threads could handle wheel bearings.
I also watched that video too but wasn't sure if he just got away lucky or not as people talk about 13/14 tons of pressure needed for stubborn ones.

 

[Guineafowl]

I’ve changed quite a few wheel bearings with this type of kit:

 

[Dessieb2022]

I’ve changed quite a few wheel bearings with this type of kit:
View attachment 519566

I have a similar kit already, I wasn't sure if it would be up to the task for wheel bearings so that's good to hear.

 

[Guineafowl]

I have a similar kit already, I wasn't sure if it would be up to the task for wheel bearings so that's good to hear.

Works well with an impact. It’s not let me down yet, except in one case where there wasn’t enough rim exposed to get the mandrel on the outer race, so I just welded round the inside and it dropped out.

 

[tom2207]

I am indeed, thank you for the kind offer but I'm up ballycastle direction so probably quite a bit away from you. Thanks for the reply too.
I know the sensible thing is to take the knuckle to a garage but just wondered what the mechanics on here thought of the hand tool kit as I like having a go myself.

Ah , Im out Comber direction ,,, so probably wouldnt work ,

 

[AVI_8]

I’ve never used a press for wheel bearings, just used an old socket extension to gently punch it on the inner race, it’s never taken any more than a few minutes, though I can’t say I’ve done it on anything modern recently so maybe I’m talking rubbish, won’t be the first time.

 

[tom2207]

I’ve never used a press for wheel bearings, just used an old socket extension to gently punch it on the inner race, it’s never taken any more than a few minutes, though I can’t say I’ve done it on anything modern recently so maybe I’m talking rubbish, won’t be the first time.

without causing offence ,,,,, total weapons grade Bullonium .

You should hear the crack of some of the modern bearings as they free up ,,, even if you did get old ones out , you would never get the new ones in again .
but if your profile pic is the view from your office ,,, Id gladly swap jobs .

 

[doubleboost]

strip it all down and take it to someone with a press to do the pressing ,,, for a once every couple of years job , its just not worth buying the kit .

its like buying a defibrillator to keep in the car in case you dont feel well one day .

What a cracking reply

 

[Turbo]

A decent bench vice and a selection of sockets and tubes to act as spacers will work on most bearings.

One of the biggest problem is keeping the hub carrier square so that the bearing goes in straight. You need some metal to act as packers under the hub.

You only get 1 chance to press it into the hub. If you go wrong and try to press it out again you will normally press out the inner race first!

You will need a bearing splitter to pull the old inner bearing ring off the hub. You can cut it off with a grinder but you can damage the hub.