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Front knuckle swap, unidentified bearing
Topic Started: Nov 9 2010, 08:42 PM (878 Views)
IHeartGeos
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I finally had time and money to do the front brake/hub upgrade, so I went to the U-Pull-It and found a Geo Metro that had the newer brakes, yoinked the knuckle assembly and brakes off, and took them home. Then I ran into problems...

The brake rotor didn't want to come off, and it took a LOT of convincing for it to finally go. In the process, however, I "removed" (involuntarily) the hub from the knuckle. Thinking to myself, I said "Myself, I might as well replace the bearings while I have it open."

So I went to the auto parts store to buy new bearings, and realized I had a bigger problem:

Posted Image
(Click on the picture to see a very large version)

The bearing appears to be a split bearing with a race, instead of a single sealed unit. On the seperated hub there is a cupped bearing race that may be pressed on, but I don't know of a way to remove it.

I'm not sure what to do. I was originally going to have a machine shop press in the new bearings, but if I can't find the right bearings... :x :x :x

Any ideas?
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Johnny Mullet
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Fear the Mullet

It looks like a 2 piece, but it's actually a one piece bearing for a 95-2000 Metro (Vert similar) and there is a dust shield that needs removed to get to the lock ring so the bearing can be pressed out.
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Johnny Mullet
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Fear the Mullet

And that race will need cut or chiseled off from the hub.
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IHeartGeos
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You're the best, Mr Mullet, thanks!

If that's the case, will I need to acquire a spacer between the bearings? Once I get the race and old bearings out, will everything go together okay?
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IHeartGeos
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Alternately, I wonder if this bearing is still available? I can't find it on any of the major auto parts stores, they all sell the sealed unit.
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Johnny Mullet
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Fear the Mullet

No spacer. It's a wide bearing. Readily available at parts stored for like $60.00
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IHeartGeos
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Would you be talking about this? (For a 95 Geo Metro)

Thankfully I am a student in the Mechanical Engineering department, so tomorrow I will take it with me to school and see about getting into the shop to cut that race off. Looks like I'll be cutting off the ring as well: I can't get it to move at all.

I'm feeling a little better about this: I was afraid I'd have to go get a different hub or something from the u-pull-it :x
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Johnny Mullet
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Fear the Mullet

Yup, that's the part. To get the lock ring out, use a hammer and punch to force the bearing away from the ring and then use lots of penetrating oil and start working that ring loose without breaking it.
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billy508
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billy508

When you remove the race, heat a place on the race then with the hub well supported, hit it with a sharp chisel. Turn it about 1/3 of the way around and repeat. That race is case harden and is very tuff but it is also brittle. Heating a spot takes some of the temper out so you can cut and expand it. You can heat the whole race but it easier this way. You MUST wear good eye protected if you bang around on it. :banana :banana :banana
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JellyBeanDriver


Johnny Mullet
Nov 9 2010, 09:49 PM
Yup, that's the part. To get the lock ring out, use a hammer and punch to force the bearing away from the ring and then use lots of penetrating oil and start working that ring loose without breaking it.
When I did mine it was a large snap ring. No pounding or working it out - just use snap ring pliers.
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mazade
Jack of All Trades, Master of None
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o.0 !!!
What? that is actually just one bearing???
Oh sheesh, I took the two ball-and-cage portions completely out and cleaned everything til it was spotless and then reinstalled 'em.... much awesome greasing of course ;)
No wonder that lock ring was in there... duh... well it didn't interfere much, popping the center portion of the bearing out that side allowed the plastic cage to flex enough to get the whole bearings-and-cage from that side to just slip on by.
The snap ring plier kit I had, and certainly tried to use there, didn't have the tips anywhere big enough for that ring - boy that was frustrating.
Well, there's one thing learned.... after the fact.

So far things are feeling mighty smooth, I might add.
Edited by mazade, Nov 10 2010, 01:03 AM.
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Woodie
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I'm much more interested in the Pizza and Stout.

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IHeartGeos
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Pizza: Totino's (1.25$/pizza, it's hard to resist even though it's the epitome of "cheap bachelor food")
Stout: Sam Adams Cream Stout (tried it on a whim, turns out it's delicious!)

Well, I called around to a machine shop to see what they could do, and it sounds like it might be an expensive ordeal. By expensive I mean 50$ and I am in college.

However, my father has an oxy-acetylene welder and an impact hammer, so I think I'll get a carbide chisel and try billy508's method. (Thanks for the tip!)

I was pondering just putting it back together, but the bearing race has some big cracks in it, so it sounds like they would need replacing soon enough anyway. Might as well do it while it's already torn apart, I guess.
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