At just over 200K on the odo, I suspected it was time to replace the rear bearings. I've been checking them periodically at the gas pump by putting my hand on the center of the hub to gauge relative temperature. The passenger side has been feeling a bit warmer than usual and it's been around 90-100K since I last changed it. So I decided to go ahead and take care of this before my trip to Hot Springs in a couple weeks. If the bearing fails, it's not the kind of thing you can easily fix on the side of the road or even in an average garage for that matter. Also, if it fails catastrophically, it could damage your wheel speed sensor.
This job requires special tools and at least a 20T hydraulic press, both of which I had access to. You could fabricate your own tool used for separating the shaft from the hub assembly, but that is another project for another discussion. From the pictures below you'll see that it's a fairly simple approach, but would require some careful fabrication.
For starters, I'll say that I already had spare axle shaft assemblies that came from a parted out FJC. This at least allowed me to work on my replacements without being decommissioned. For that reason, the steps may be non-linear for those that are going to attempt this job on their "live" axles. I am starting with the axles already on the bench with the wheel sensor already removed.
Step 1, remove the circle-clip.
Step 2, assembly of the "special service tool". The mounting plate on this tool is reversible so that it can be used on each side. Line the plate up with the bolt pattern on the hub face and then mount the plate to the shaft section of the tool. Then the tool gets mounted to the axle...
Step 3, using the 17mm nuts from the back of the unit bearing, you will bolt the extraction tool to the hub face. The idea is to set the tool in the bridge of the press so that the axle shaft can be pushed down by the piston, thus separating the retaining ring and bearings from the hub base.
Step 4, Now we're ready for the press. That retaining ring is a real monster and I would recommend that you proceed with much caution during this process. The retaining ring is not a reusable part, but because of its location/position it is really hard to get a cutoff tool in there to assist in this process. I doubt that even penetrating oil would make a difference here.
But, alas, it did break free. As you will note there is still the outer bearing race attached to the axle shaft. Everything in the lower half of this picture can be tossed into the recycling bin. (save the ball bearings for your slingshot pouch)
Next up, shattering a race...
This job requires special tools and at least a 20T hydraulic press, both of which I had access to. You could fabricate your own tool used for separating the shaft from the hub assembly, but that is another project for another discussion. From the pictures below you'll see that it's a fairly simple approach, but would require some careful fabrication.
For starters, I'll say that I already had spare axle shaft assemblies that came from a parted out FJC. This at least allowed me to work on my replacements without being decommissioned. For that reason, the steps may be non-linear for those that are going to attempt this job on their "live" axles. I am starting with the axles already on the bench with the wheel sensor already removed.
Step 1, remove the circle-clip.
Step 2, assembly of the "special service tool". The mounting plate on this tool is reversible so that it can be used on each side. Line the plate up with the bolt pattern on the hub face and then mount the plate to the shaft section of the tool. Then the tool gets mounted to the axle...
Step 3, using the 17mm nuts from the back of the unit bearing, you will bolt the extraction tool to the hub face. The idea is to set the tool in the bridge of the press so that the axle shaft can be pushed down by the piston, thus separating the retaining ring and bearings from the hub base.
Step 4, Now we're ready for the press. That retaining ring is a real monster and I would recommend that you proceed with much caution during this process. The retaining ring is not a reusable part, but because of its location/position it is really hard to get a cutoff tool in there to assist in this process. I doubt that even penetrating oil would make a difference here.
But, alas, it did break free. As you will note there is still the outer bearing race attached to the axle shaft. Everything in the lower half of this picture can be tossed into the recycling bin. (save the ball bearings for your slingshot pouch)
Next up, shattering a race...