NEED REAL TIME HELP.....Outer bearing race stuck in knuckle housing. (1 Viewer)

[Silicon 70]

Hi folks, I'm hoping I can get some help with this problem. I'm currently replacing both front bearings on my 01 Toyota Highlander 2wd because they finally gave up the ghost after 231k. I managed to remove the hub spindles and the inner bearing races from the spindles, but the outer bearing race will not budge from the knuckle housings.

I tried to use my 20 ton press and it still will not budge. It actually bent a part of my 20 ton press. I've tried spraying Kroil where the race makes contact with the housing and leaving it overnight to soak and still no go.

After doing some reading online. A few people have suggested welding a bead all the way around the inside of the outer race. The thought behind this is that the heat will make the bearing race expand, but after it cools it should fall right out?

Or using an oxy/acetyl torch(which I don't have) to heat the outside if the knuckle housing causing it to expand, then the race would fall out because its cooler than the housing?.

But, wouldn't both methods compromise the knuckle housings' hardness or temper?

I'm really trying to avoid forking out $600 for a pair of knuckle housing from the dealer.

I also tried going to an online wrecker, but they still have the bearings and spindle attached. In most cases, the mileage on the assemblies they are selling are over 150k. I don't know if the bearings will pop out of those as well.

Anyway, I'm running out of options and would really appreciate any help or suggestions.

Also here's some pictures of the offending part.

Tanks again for any help.

 

[40Habits]

I know some auto parts stores like car quest or your local machine shop will usally press them out and the new one in for about $35.

 

[zetasig]

Ditto. I took the entire knuckle of a 2000 4runner to a front end shop. They popped the old parts out and put the new ones in, including a new upper ball joint for 75 bucks. I just supplied them all the OEM parts.

 

[Silicon 70]

I took them to a local machine shop yesterday. They tried to remove the bearing race with a 50 ton press and it still wouldn't budge. They wanted to heat the knuckle to get the bearing out, but I refused because heating the knuckle would compromise its strength.

I still don't understand what would cause it to seize into the housing. A mechanic friend of mine suggested that I should have replaced the bearings at 150k miles instead of at 231k? I told him that doesn't make sense because it wasn't making noise at 120k, why replace it.

I've used my 20 ton press at home numerous times to replace the bearings on my other cars before. I just don't understand it.

 

[SteveH]

I doubt heating the housing would compromise its strength in that application. The machine shop was right to apply force first, but if that doesn't work, torching and force is the next logical step. I, too, wouldn't have replaced it early - I would have waited until it made noise. How about cutting 90% of the way through the race with either a cutting torch or a cutting disk (or some technology) to weaken the hold that the race has on the housing, and then try pressing it out?

 

[Silicon 70]

I'm no metallurgist, but I did talk to a Materials Engineer(an uncle of mine) and he told me the knuckle may have already heated up at one point, that's why I can't get the outer race out. He also says if I used heat again to get the race out then most likely the knuckle housing will be out of round, since heating will cause the metal to distort.

I hope that makes sense, but that's what I understood.

 

[Jeremy9A]

First off, I would put a good amount of pressure on it, and smack the knuckle with a hammer a few times. That usually works for me.

If that doesn't work, I would apply some heat to it. Still may have to smack it with a hammer.

It's a 2wd Highlander..... You don't need to melt the knuckle or anything, just heat it up a little.

 

[Silicon 70]

I got the outer races to come off. I put it in my 20 ton press, applied some pressure and took a mapp gas torch to it. The outer race shot out of the housing, making a very loud noise.

Neighbor came over and asked if I was okay. He says he thought a shotgun was fired.