Wheel bearing press

[johnasosajr]

Hey everyone,
I'm looking for advice on a cheap wheel bearing press I can use to press an old bearing out and new one. I see a bunch on line for under 100 if anyone has ordered one and could share a link and around what you paid it would be greatly appreciated

 

[bwringer]

Harbor Freight 20 ton press. If you don't have the room to keep it, sell it on Cracklist when you're done.

But you may want to keep it -- a hydraulic press is an extremely handy thing to have around.

 

[johnasosajr]

Does that have to be hooked up to a compressor

 

[DougWil]

Front wheel bearing? Rear axle shaft?

I have a 32ton press and it isn't near enough for many bearings.

For 1 bearing find someone with a press or take it to a shop, you also need bearing splitters, and assortment of pressing collars etc,,, to use with a press.

 

[mrobins297aaa]

nope, no compressor, I think they have it on sale for $149 right now

 

[BFBOB]

Ditto HF 20T. Cheap, works fine. Put it on casters so you can move it out of the way easily, then back out where it's needed and you'll use it more. It's tall enough to do rear axle beariigs.

 

[Dr Stan]

Look for one on Craigs List before buying anywhere else.

 

[johnasosajr]

Front bearing on a chevy Aveo I just figure it might be worth having I work on all kinds of vehicles

 

[why worry]

Another way to do it is with a large socket and a hammer. Just need to take your time and work it on slowly. Once you have a press though you will not want to go back to a hammer and socket. Like others have said HF isn't a bad route to go.

 

[vettex2]

Ditto HF 20T. Cheap, works fine. Put it on casters so you can move it out of the way easily, then back out where it's needed and you'll use it more. It's tall enough to do rear axle bearings.

That was my first thing I did after assembly

 

[nafterclifen]

Maybe it was the operator, I don't think it was, but the HF 20-ton press would not even budge front wheel bearings in a 4WD Tacoma.

 

[DougWil]

Maybe it was the operator, I don't think it was, but the HF 20-ton press would not even budge front wheel bearings in a 4WD Tacoma.

Took about 40 tons and a torch to get off a rusted Troybilt rototiller wheel hub off the 1" dia shaft.

Can't imagine how often a 20 tonner would come up short.

 

[johnasosajr]

I know they make a press like the one you can rent from auto zone you use a ratchet or impact on I was just wondering if anyone had something like that I don't really have a whole lot of room for a big press like that at this time

 

[vettex2]

Maybe it was the operator, I don't think it was, but the HF 20-ton press would not even budge front wheel bearings in a 4WD Tacoma.

sometime corrosion makes it impossible no matter what sizepress you use.

 

[WhiffySpark]

Hub grappler is what you're thinking of

 

[countryroad82]

Just bought the 20 ton press from HF to do the rear end on my ATV, it's looking like I should have gotten one a long time ago. Knew it would be handy, just never wanted to use the floor space lol

 

[paranoid56]

Maybe it was the operator, I don't think it was, but the HF 20-ton press would not even budge front wheel bearings in a 4WD Tacoma.

kinda depends on where that tacoma lives.
i have mine pop at 12t and others at 45t lol

 

[engineer2]

Penetrating oil is you friend. The challenge is to find the right diameter tooling to press the bearing in and out. For the old bearing it doesn't matter. For the new bearing, only press on the part that has the press fit. In other words, if pressing it into the steering knuckle, press on the outer race. Usually you can use the old bearing to get it started. Use a large socket or pipe coupling that matches the size of the outer race.

On many cars get the orientation right or the ABS signal generator will be on th wrong side.

 

[Trey T]

Typically on FWD cars, you want to take off the spindle and use a shop press. That's a safe recommendation.

I've used this type on my Porsche in the past and it works well.

 

[matt_i]

The challenge is to find the right diameter tooling to press the bearing in and out.

Well said, the best friend of the press is the lathe. I have an entire drawer in my shop with solid and tube offcuts that have been machined and sometimes remachined for different jobs on machines and cars/trucks. Its more important for brand new parts, if you are attempting to press the outer race, its a very good to required idea to only touch the outer race with your press tooling.

 

[shockwave]

Maybe it was the operator, I don't think it was, but the HF 20-ton press would not even budge front wheel bearings in a 4WD Tacoma.

Just did one of these last week on our 50 ton at the shop took 20 before it even started moving though the larger bearing seperators help on these too

 

[shockwave]

To answer your question you might look into a otc hub grappler or rent one if possible

It will do hubs and bearings on most press in

And keep in mind with full press 20 ton minimum for all around use
Bearing separators and cup assortment plus cut off wheel and punch for inner race (if reuse of hub)

 

[Falcon67]

I have the HF 12 ton and it's done everything I've asked. It paid for it's self - $99 - doing the first 9" Ford rear build. Don't do 4WD stuff though. Yes, it's best bud is the 12x36 lathe.

 

[regguy1]

This will do the job with minimal disassembly: http://www.harborfreight.com/front-wheel-bearing-adapters-63260.html

Taking the spindle off and using a hydraulic press is way more work.

 

[WhiffySpark]

Neither one always works. I've had to heat more than one spindle to get one out with a hub grappler

 

[-Brent-]

Just bought the 20 ton press from HF to do the rear end on my ATV, it's looking like I should have gotten one a long time ago. Knew it would be handy, just never wanted to use the floor space lol

Floor space is why I got rid of mine. I just made sure a couple buddies had them before I sold mine off. I even tried to lend it to a buddy to keep at his place... nope, he has the same train of thought, keep one in the community and that's enough.

 

[countryroad82]

Floor space is why I got rid of mine. I just made sure a couple buddies had them before I sold mine off. I even tried to lend it to a buddy to keep at his place... nope, he has the same train of thought, keep one in the community and that's enough.

I have free reign to a really nice air over hydraulic press, but it's not the closest to me (about 30 minutes) and plus I don't like to bum.ive used it a few times but I never wanted to wear out my welcome. So after years of beating and banging I broke down and got my own. I've got **** at my shop I might use once every few years I hate the wasted space but it's nice to have it when the need arises.

 

[vettex2]

This will do the job with minimal disassembly: http://www.harborfreight.com/front-wheel-bearing-adapters-63260.html

Taking the spindle off and using a hydraulic press is way more work.

until the threads strip

 

[bwringer]

Or do what I did:

Take the knuckle and new bearing to a machine shop.

Pay them $40 to ruin an $80 bearing, then tell you "tough ****" when you complain.

Channel your inner Hulk. Grapple mightily with your wallet.

Head to Harbor Freight, get a 20 ton press and do it yerdamnself like you should have done in the first damn place.

 

[ChevyEFI]

Or do what I did:

Take the knuckle and new bearing to a machine shop.

Pay them $40 to ruin an $80 bearing, then tell you "tough ****" when you complain.

Channel your inner Hulk. Grapple mightily with your wallet.

Head to Harbor Freight, get a 20 ton press and do it yerdamnself like you should have done in the first damn place.

that's pretty close to my first experience with a-arm bushings. Except my friend with the salvage cars went there, showed the owner how it was done, and walked out. Miss that guy. Got my press later on.

 

[Mr_B]

The on car hub bearing screw press kits are quite good if buy half decent one.
20T press also nice to have and don't waste much space , Mine doubles as an angle grinder and piller drill stand so not wasted footprint.
sell easily enough too if not wanting keep long term, just buy decent sized bed version and nothing smaller than 20T .

 

[BigPig]

I've been working on cars since my early teens (now 29) and can say that using a hammer on a bearing takes many years of practice. Getting it off is easy, but without a press, how do you get the new one on? I'm gonna join the crowd and say "buy the press".
- advice from a guy who thought "how hard could it be to hammer a new one on?"-

 

[Trey T]

^once it goes in crooked, it's easier to just hammer it more and make things worst!! been there done that!

 

[Falcon67]

Floor space is why I got rid of mine. .

Mine's on wheels - moves around as needed or stacks up in a corner waiting.