Drifting in bearing races

[Waynebaby]

Hi All,

 

Just a quick question about drifting in new bearings (for rear hubs in this case) When drifting in bearing races should the bore of the hub be greased or are the bearings fitted dry? As they are an interference fit I'm guessing that the two surfaces shouldn't be lubricated. Can anybody tell me if my guess is correct?

 

Wayne

 

 

 

[Pete Lewis]

In general there will be a small clearance on the bearing housing but a tight press drift on fit to the drive shaft

 

this allows the outer race to rotate by drag this spreads the car weight load around the race during its life

so rear hub is hand fit in the hsg but tight on shaft

front hub is tight in hub but loose on stub shaft

 

pete

[Waynebaby]

Thanks Pete. Good info and advice as usual. There is some light pitting on the inner bearing housing region - in view of what you have told me about the outer race rotation, do you think this might be a problem?

 

Wayne 

[Pete Lewis]

providing the basic bore is giving a good  clean location diameter then  just use it 

 

some pitting is not a problem,   big gaps would not support the outer race and that would likely  to fail early life

  Pete

[Waynebaby]

I cleaned up the area where the inner bearing race sits with some oil and emery and everything went into place nicely. Some tapping with a hide mallet but nothing excessive.

 

Thanks again Pete!

 

Wayne

[JohnD]

Use the old outer race as a mandrel (?) On top of the new.

Spreads the load, prevents misstrokes damaging the new.

You can get the new almost all they way in that method.

 

John

[Waynebaby]

Thanks John,

 

I used a 5/8" socket on the inner bearings but did use the old oil seal to drive in the the new seal in the way you suggested. I'm not ready yet to insert the half shaft and attempt to drive on the outer bearing but I am starting to wonder how to best go about that. I don't have a press and so will be using a mallet and figured that I'd use the old outer bearing to drift in/protect the new one, until I realised I'd probably end up with the old bearing stuck on the shaft again if I did that! Is there a clever way to do this or is it just a case of hit it and hope?

 

Wayne

[Pete Lewis]

Theres a dedicated tubular drift in the manual but this only knocks the bearing hsg into a starting position

when you add the hub and tighten the centre nut it presses the hsg down the shaft

so look in the book ignore the dimension as its meaninless

 

its important that when all assembled that the brake shoes site centrally in the drum braking surface

 

so it should all just pull up fine .......who said that

 

pete

[JohnD]

What he said!

JOhn

[Waynebaby]

Thanks gents. I'll let you know how I get on next week.

 

Wayne