Rear Wheel Bearing Replacement

[F690OTF(RIP)]

I'm just in the process of replacing the left rear wheel bearing on our Clubman. It's all going well so far, but I have two questions:

1) Can one buy replacement split pins for the hub nut? The long leg of ours broke in the process of extracting it, so that the pin will go back in again no problem, but there's no bit to bend round over the top. Is it worth trying to get hold of a new one, or should I just go and get one from the scrappy?

2) The Haynes manual says that the oil seal will need replacing as the old one will have been damaged during removal. Does the new bearing usually include a replacement seal? (I haven't got it yet - I have to pick it up from the factors' in the morning)

Any other top tips, such as inventive suggestions for good drifts, would also be appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

[E_T_V]

You can buy packs of split pins from a motorfactor but the wheel bearing kit will most likely have one in it. it should also contain the oil seal too.

[E_T_V]

you can use a large close fitting socket as a drift to press the new bearing in, or if you are careful you can use a soft metal bar as a drif if you ensure you drive the bearing in square. If you want you can try using the old bearing as a drift too. The job is usually a very easy one, and much much easier than the front ones.

[F690OTF(RIP)]

A socket... that's an excellent idea. Works for putting them in where it wouldn't work for taking them out, because you're pushing the wrong way. Thanks for that.

Yes, it doesn't seem too difficult, which is something of a relief - it's a bit of a surprise for my dad whilst my parents are on holiday, but if it all goes wrong then it's not a nice surprise! Going very well so far, though.
The nasty surprise will be when he gets back to be told he owes me £34!

[E_T_V]

Ouch.. my one for the van (rather larger than the car ones) was 23 quid I think for a QH part. Is it a rover part by any chance?

[MGTurbo]

I use a screwdriver and hammer to lightly drift the bearing into the housing.

Gareth

[F690OTF(RIP)]

Ouch.. my one for the van (rather larger than the car ones) was 23 quid I think for a QH part. Is it a rover part by any chance?

No, it's from our local motor factors (although we have reason to believe they sometimes get their parts from the local Rover dealership if they don't have them in stock). I thought it sounded a bit expensive, but I can't imagine getting it from Rover is going to be cheaper, so there's not a lot I can do about it.

[MGTurbo]

£18 from Rover, and its a genuine part..

[MaestroMatt]

Can someone explain what drifting something is? Never heard that before.

[E_T_V]

Its what snow does upp here in the north! and what cars do when stuck on said snow!

Seriously though it is basically using another object between the hammer and the object you are trying to fit/remove which either prevents the object from being damaged, makes fitting it easier or provides a longer reach/easier access.

[F690OTF(RIP)]

£18 from Rover, and its a genuine part..

How strange, not to mention annoying. It was only(!) £31 in the end, and I bet I'd get a different price if I went in and asked/ordered/bought again - they have to spend several minutes calculating the price, and it always seems a bit arbitrary.

Anyway, the job's now done and the tell-tale noise has gone. The most difficult parts of the job were removing and re-inserting the split pin. The new bearing did come with a new pin, but it was far too big (1.5-2 times the diameter of the old one!) I tried filing it down bit by bit, but eventually I'd tried knocking it in (and then having to bend it back into shape...) so many times that it broke, so I went back down to the factors with the original pin in its broken state and came away with two (just to be on the safe side) new pins about the same size. Went in nice and easy. The job would probably have been about 2 hours shorter if the split pins had behaved themselves.

[aerosam99]

I use a screwdriver and hammer to lightly drift the bearing into the housing.

Gareth


I'm a lucky b*****d, I have a 20 ton hydraulic press in my garage, dead handy for changing bearings.

[MGTurbo]

I'm a lucky b*****d, I have a 20 ton hydraulic press in my garage, dead handy for changing bearings.


Thats a bit overkill for the rear hub bearings. Front ones yes, you need a press.

[aerosam99]

Thats a bit overkill for the rear hub bearings. Front ones yes, you need a press.

yeah it usually takes about 1 ton to get the fronts on, but it is fun to crank it up to full and squash the old ones flat, hee hee.