Nelsonmd

I am installing my new front axle bearings, and I am running into some trouble with the ABS ring and retainer. I pressed everything in and the ABS ring and retainer are freely spinning.



Anyone know why this would be happening? I have continued pressing on it, but it doesn't budge, and is still loose when I release pressure.

I checked my other hub that is still fully assembled, and the ABS ring spins, but the retainer doesn't. That doesn't seem right either. Any ideas?

aowRS

Any chance it all locks together once the stub axle is clamped to the bearing via the axle nut?


Andreas

Nelsonmd

Well, that is a possibility. The other retainer may be corroded in place. Anyone know for sure?

Nelsonmd

Well, I think Andreas is correct, I have found a couple other guys that confirm the retainer and ABS ring can spin freely until the axle is installed.

Thanks for the suggestion Andreas.

aowRS

Certainly!

Do you have any hints/thoughts regarding the bearing R&R? I'm quickly approaching 250k on the truck and keep wondering how much longer the front bearings will last.

I do have a 30-ton press in my shop, but am curious how you configured the upright in your press, and what inserts you used to remove & replace the bearings.


Andreas

Nelsonmd

I used a puller and press from Harbor Freight:
http://www.harborfreight.com/12-ton-...ess-33497.html
http://www.harborfreight.com/8-inch-...ler-40970.html

The press works great. The puller had some issues, detailed here: http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-ge...tml#post960734; but in the end it worked on a pretty stuck bearing.

As far as inserts, I used the old outer race and the arbor plates that came with the press, as well as a block of aluminum I had sitting around (to raise the hub off the lugs). If I do the other knuckle, I think I will try to use the old inner race to press the hub into place instead of the ball joint kit I rented. The ball joint kit insert just barely fit. I will have to cut a slit in the inner race though as I will end up partially pressing the hub onto the old race. So in summary:

Removing the hub: Harbor freight puller (with custom links)
Removing the bearing from the knuckle: metal blocks to lift the knuckle (give the bearing room to press out), and nothing on the bearing (just pressed directly on the bearing, alternating sides, though once it got moving, it just pressed right out).
Pressing new bearing into knuckle: Old bearing outer race
Pressing hub into new bearing: Al block (to lift the hub off the studs), and a rented ball joint kit, but will use the old inner race next time
Pressing on the ABS ring and retainer: Socket on the retainer, Al block on hub.

That was it. It wasn't all that hard, but next time I will put more thought and time into jigging everything up for the press. I'll take some pictures if I do the other side and post them up.