Bearing removal question

[amishman]

Need to replace a bearing on my Eriba Puck, a small 2 person German camper from the early 70s that many VW folks like pulling around. Thought I could drive out the old race from the axle hub myself like I did on past VW drum brake work. But.... there is no groove or opening in the inside of this Eriba Hub to drive it out. The race is perfectly flush with the inside axle housing. doh!

How the heck can one drive the old race out if there is no place to put a punch up to it and drive it out?

Or, can a machine ship somehow "crack" the old race out by breaking the race somehow and then they press the new race in?

I just do not want this axle hub damaged as it would be near impossible to get another hub!!!

Or, do I not chance that since this Hub would be so hard to find again and just use the new bearing with old race, although I normally know you don't supposed to do that.

Thanks for any guidance.

tj

As you will see, no groove from opposite side to punch up against!

 

[Charles (in GA)]

It is my understanding that if you lay a bead of weld all the way around the middle of the race surface (or even short sections around it) that it will shrink and fall out when it cools. You are welding on the tapered surface the rollers run on.

This was just asked a couple of days ago on another board and that was the answer they gave.

http://www.ytmag.com/cgi-bin/viewit.cgi?bd=toolt&th=225205

I saw a French made camper, small rounded, fiberglass shell I think, while traveling in Iowa several years ago. Thought about buying it but didn't, wished I had. Need something small and light to pull behind my 4 cyl Ranger.

Charles

 

[russlaferrera]

If you have a arc welder. Weld a piece of metal into the race . turn the hub over and beat it out.

You can drill 2 3/8 holes from the backside and use a drift to knock the race out.

You can try dry ice to shrink it , crack it.

 

[amishman]

Wow, thanks for the advice.

Both above my means at this time but good to know.

I think I will take to a machine shop and hopefully, they can do this for me.

Thanks again.

tj

 

[russlaferrera]

On my 2nd look do I see the outside race? If so knock that race out to get to inside race. It seems odd that there is no provision to remove a replaceable part.

 

[amishman]

On my 2nd look do I see the outside race? If so knock that race out to get to inside race. It seems odd that there is no provision to remove a replaceable part.

There is a race on other side but that race is much further back. Removing it does not give me any space on rear of the one I want to remove. I thought of that also, but it is not the way on this one. If they **** up to each other it would but they are like 3 to 4 inches apart.

tj

 

[kool55]

Weld a bead around the the roller path area of the race then let it cool.The race will all but fall out. We do it all the time.

 

[jbegler]

I agree with the welding around the race. It will shrink the race and basically just fall out. We do it all the time on our equipment.

 

[arthur1920]

Weld a bead around the the roller path area of the race then let it cool.The race will all but fall out. We do it all the time.

You arc weld a bead on it? Ground clamp to the hub?

 

[BillK]

tj,

If you turn the hub over, can you see the inside edge of the larger race, like you can see the small race in your picture ? If so just take a long, sharp chisel and catch the inner lip of the race and knock it out. I have yet to see one in the shop that we have had to do any type of welding to remove, and believe me we see plenty of them.

There are quite a few hubs that do not have the clearance groove in them, so this is not an unusual deal.

 

[bomber]

you can also take your die grinder and create a crack on one side of the race -- it will come out pretty easily then --

be careful not to go through the race altogether, though

 

[stioc]

Usually if you turn the hub over and look at the race from the back side there's a 'tab' in the lip that the race rests against. The tab is there to use a punch and drive the race out.

 

[Torque1st]

I can't really see much in your picture about the configuration of the device. Are the fasteners around the hub studs that go thru the backing material? They look like studs, not rivets. If the are studs just unbolt the hub.

 

[porschedude996TT]

I see enough edge of the bearing cup to drive it out with a punch or chisel.

 

[thumper 549]

Use a wire feed ( more controll )

 

[55dude]

bet if you go online to one of the vw sites somebody else has one and may know how to service it or direct you to it. start surfing!

 

[amishman]

I guess I forgot to post. It is out and all done. I took to a machine shop and they made two small grinds behind the race to give that opening needed to punch out the race. So, all is well. Thanks, tj