Rear Wheel Bearings. How to |
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Mark-Hans
Yardie turkey drummer Joined: 22 Jul 12 Location: Netherlands Status: Offline Points: 332 |
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Posted: 15 Nov 12 at 07:24 |
Rear Wheel Hubs & Bearings T3.
Maybe this can be regarded as one of the more 'daunting' areas on the T3. At first glance, that huge castle nut in the middle of the rear brake drums looks ominous. Usually deeply rusty with a large split pin driven through the middle, the scene is set. We service the rear brakes, but often have difficulty getting access to the mechanisms. Rear Hub is in the way. But, it has to be better than trying to remove that Nut from hell after negotiating with the split pin and drawing off the outer wheel hub. Go, check your own van, you see what I mean! But, in all honesty, it looks worse than it is, so maybe the thought is worse than the task ahead. Once you fix the outer hub, it's a once in a lifetime job. Also, if your bus is starting to sound like a tram on heat, or the rumbling from the rear-end sounds like a broken gearbox, maybe you'd overlooked the rear wheel bearings. Tucked away inside the rear swing arms are two handsome sized clusters of wheel bearings. If you don't know about them, you'd miss them, but once worn, they make a lot of rumbling whirring noises & generally start to complain. Because of all of the above, you close your ears for as long as possible and then, one day, it's D Day. Got to sort this all out. So, before you condemn your gearbox, take a good look at those wheel bearings. Here's how it's done. 1. About a week ahead of D Day, soak those two big castle-nuts in WD40 or similar. At the same time, climb under the van and soak the four large bolts that hold the stub axle to the swing arm. They are just behind the brake drum. Lastly, soak the allen bolts on the outer CV Joint of the drive shaft. DO BOTH SIDES!…… Repeat this every day for a week!……, it's worth it. 2. Check out your tool box. You'll need a decent trolley jack, axle stands, a 46mm 3/4 socket and a bar of about 1.5 metres long. (5ft). The socket must be 6 sided, not 12 because the 12 can slip and the 6 will hold in place when you apply about 14 stones of force on it. Have some decent rubber gloves to save your hands. An electric drill (mains), a 5mm & 6mm quality metal drill, big copper mallet & your usual spread of hand tools. Other handy items is a large blow torch, (and CO2 fire extinguisher in the area), WD40, Wire brush and plenty of light. 3. Pick a day when you are relaxed, the kids are locked away & the wife is baking fresh bread. Now's your moment. Allow 2 hours per side. 4. Easiest way to remove those big castle nuts is as follows. Wire brush the whole area clean. It will be fairly wet as it's been soaking in penetrating oil. Using side cutters, see if the split pin will come out. If it does, the rest is easy. Mostly, they won't budge. I've heard of guys cracking open the castle nuts & all sorts but actually this method worked for me with ease & engineering is better than brute force. Using a 5mm drill, drill horizontally to remover the tails of the split pin. Then, with a 6mm drill, drill out the remaining split pin. Takes a couple of minutes. Once done, you should be able to put the drill right the way through the stub axle. (see photographs). Remove the drill. 5. Put the wheel back on, put the van squarely back on the ground, apply the handbrake with some force and put her in 1st or reverse gear. Using your 46mm socket and bar, extends the bar to about 4ft long. Then, make sure everything is stable, stand on the bar. I am 14 stones and that was enough to finally crack the nut loose. (soaking it all week obviously did the trick). Came off very cleanly, both sides about the same. Once the nut is off, squirt WD40 into the flange/stub axle. This will now slide off easily exposing the rear breaks and outer wheel bearing and oil seal. The worst is over! 6. From there, clamp the rubber brake pipe, disconnect the brake pipe from the cylinder, remove the upper bolt holding on the brake cylinder and the two lower bolts which are next to each other on the lower brake shoe anchor point. Leave the brake shoes and mechanisms in place!. With care, easy the back plate away from the stub axle. The lower anchor point has a location pin in the middle. This can be difficult to free from the stub axle. Take care. As soon as the back plate is an inch from the stub axle, put the upper nut back into the brake cylinder to keep everything in place. Carefully remover the whole back plate over the stub axle and place to one side. The handbrake cable can be left attached, no problem. (this also saves loads of time). 7. Now you are left with the wheel bearing housing. Another big lump of cast iron. Exposed are the four mounting bolts. These are generally very corroded and difficult to remove BUT not impossible. Again, you MUST have a 23mm, 6 sided socket, not the standard 12. If you damage any of these bolts, you are in for a very long job, so make sure you don't! Using an electric drill & wire brush, clean all four bolts thoroughly. You will find that there are four cut inserts into the housing, allowing the socket to fit perfectly. These have to be perfectly CLEAN! 8. Heat each bolt, one by one, before removing them. They are VERY tight, so you'll need an extension to your 1/2 inch socket and arm. If the 23mm socket is loose, buy a 22mm socket and hammer it on. What every you do, don't bugger the bolts up. Be very careful of your back too! And be careful because they are now very hot!…. 9. While they are cooling, get under the van and remover the drive shafts from the Gearbox. This is far easier than trying to remover them from the stub axle inside the swing arm. 10. Take the four axle nuts out and gentle remover the whole axle & drive shaft away from the van. 11. On the bench, you can then remover the drive shaft from the stub axle with ease. 12. After thoroughly cleaning the stub axle, put the axle in a press and gently drive out the stub axle shaft. 13. Then, remover the big cir-clip which is behind the inner oil seal and push the bearings out, taking care to keep everything in perfect alignment. 14. In reverse order, press in the new bearings, repack them with grease before putting in the 'inner' oil seal. 15. Press the outer bearing in, but leaving the inner sleeve to one side for the moment. 16. Press the stub axle back into the bearing housing. 17. Finally, pack the outer bearing with grease, gently slide the inner sleeve of that bearing over the now placed axle shaft & gently tap it home into place using a sleeve or the outer flange. Fit new oil seal……. 18. Re-attach drive shaft to outer hug, slide the whole assembly back onto the swing arm and using loads of grease, (copper-slip) locate the four mounting bolts are tighten them to 150 nms. Re-attach the braking system, clean, adjust, bleed etc. Finally, check all the bolts, drive shaft attachment to gearbox and handbrake adjustment. In my case, I carried out a major service on the rear brakes at the same time, but that is according to condition. 19. Tighten the Castle Nut (having packed with Copper-Slip) to 5ft bar, plus your full weight. Something like 500 nms, but my torque wrench only goes to 150! Put the wheels back on and go for a test drive!……… 20. Reward yourself with a piece of your wife's home made bread!…… Job done. Photo's of project. Link to. https://plus.google.com/photos/105656464648875652440/albums/5810572635065115729 Edited by Mark-Hans - 15 Nov 12 at 09:23 |
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tim
Yardie Joined: 23 Mar 11 Location: salisbury Status: Offline Points: 964 |
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why not put pics on here aswell as google which i cant seem to get onto.
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lambretta lover but there is room for the t3
1981 2lt aircooled passion wagon MAY YOU RUST IN PIECES. http://s1085.photobucket.com/albums/j424/timwatson1/ |
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Mark-Hans
Yardie turkey drummer Joined: 22 Jul 12 Location: Netherlands Status: Offline Points: 332 |
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As requested.
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tim
Yardie Joined: 23 Mar 11 Location: salisbury Status: Offline Points: 964 |
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cheers mark very informative.
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lambretta lover but there is room for the t3
1981 2lt aircooled passion wagon MAY YOU RUST IN PIECES. http://s1085.photobucket.com/albums/j424/timwatson1/ |
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Benji89
Groupie Joined: 09 Jan 12 Location: salisbury Status: Offline Points: 216 |
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Very helpfull. Just cleaned the rear brakes and noticed i have some play in the rear wheel! Next job on the list!
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Mark-Hans
Yardie turkey drummer Joined: 22 Jul 12 Location: Netherlands Status: Offline Points: 332 |
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Before you dive in too deep, check a couple of things out. There is a small amount of play allowed, so just a noticeable bit, but not too much. You can prise out the front oil seal and look at the outer bearing and re-pack it with grease. Fit a new oil seal. If you find it very dry, or an excess of play, then maybe it's time. My old ones had done 180,000 miles and were 'just' beginning to whine. Good luck
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Benji89
Groupie Joined: 09 Jan 12 Location: salisbury Status: Offline Points: 216 |
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I think there gone as there is a fair bit of slop on one corner.
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itchyfeet
Vanorak Joined: 17 May 07 Location: Hampshire Status: Offline Points: 1842 |
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Jack it up and actually measure the movement of the tyre at the tread, mine felt like they had alot of play but when measured there was only 1-2mm movement at the tread ( max diameter of tyre)
good effort MH, you are now an honary HB Edited by itchyfeet - 16 Nov 12 at 20:22 |
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88 DG LPG Tin Top
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Mark-Hans
Yardie turkey drummer Joined: 22 Jul 12 Location: Netherlands Status: Offline Points: 332 |
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Read the link, that's enough to put everyone off. Hope my description corrects the nightmare. I have to say, while soaking all those bolts I too was wondering about what would come of all of this. Couple of points if you are reading this thread. PREPARATION is VERY important. It's not rocket science, but I can't express enough that if you screw this job up in any way, your buggered!, big time. SO, for example, when removing the brake pipe from the Brake Cylinder, use a proper brake pipe spanner. (5 sided open end, 11mm). Then taking out the bleed nipple, use a 7mm ring and ease it out 'very' gently. Most come out!. The rest you know. It is also true that the back plates of the brakes almost always disintegrate, so before you do the job, have new cylinders, new backplates and a brake shoe fitting kit (springs/clips).
So, here's a shopping list. 2 x Wheel Bearing Kits. 2 wheel cylinder kits..(optional, but always handy to have). Brake Pipe Spanner. Copper Slip Grease. LM Grease. WD 40. 2 Brake Pipe Clamps. Bleeding kit...(jam jar, rubber hose). Brake Fluid. 2 Rear Brake Back Plates. Brake Shoe fitting kit. 46mm 6 sided Socket. 3/4 drive. Extension bar for above socket, Trolley Jack Handle (or even longer extension). Pair of Hobby Rubber Glove Preparation is indeed the road to success. And really, it isn't 'that' bad.. Mark |
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Mark-Hans
Yardie turkey drummer Joined: 22 Jul 12 Location: Netherlands Status: Offline Points: 332 |
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Question. About to do the Front Bearings. You want a pictures/description of that?
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jed the spread
PROBATION Bullshitter Joined: 13 Sep 05 Status: Offline Points: 1365 |
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You dont have to do number 6 or take the drive shaft off. Look at 2.25 onward here for a much quicker and easier way
Jed
Edited by jed the spread - 17 Nov 12 at 09:48 |
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[URL=http://www.whatatool.com[/URL]
My real name is Jarrod Walsh my number is 07940177101 or email Jed@campervanCulture.com for enquiries. |
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Mark-Hans
Yardie turkey drummer Joined: 22 Jul 12 Location: Netherlands Status: Offline Points: 332 |
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Jed. The link doesn't seem to work.
No 6 refers to releasing the brake back plates. This 'has' to be done, because the job is impossible with the brake back plate in place!..... Also, you need to remove the drive shaft to press out the stub axle assembly. No entirely sure where you are coming from here!.... but I'd be curious. |
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jed the spread
PROBATION Bullshitter Joined: 13 Sep 05 Status: Offline Points: 1365 |
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It must be because the swear filter changes t 2 5 to t3 in the link. I cant really take credit for the tips, it was Russel formally from Syncro-nutz that showed me this way when we had to change a failed bearing on the roadside on one of our trips. Saves loads of time though. Try here, |
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[URL=http://www.whatatool.com[/URL]
My real name is Jarrod Walsh my number is 07940177101 or email Jed@campervanCulture.com for enquiries. |
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Mark-Hans
Yardie turkey drummer Joined: 22 Jul 12 Location: Netherlands Status: Offline Points: 332 |
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I am laughing out loud & crying!...... Fab Video, but a bit 'alice in wonderland'
His Hubs were perfect. Like 5 years old. No corrosion, everything 'slipped off easily'. Sure, the short cuts look effective... BUT>>>>>>WARNING. He 'bent' the brake pipe back..... an absolute NO NO. He could have caused a hair pin fracture in the metal brake line. One day, he'll stab those brakes SO hard, it will shatter. This is utterly stupid and highly dangerous. NEVER, EVER, DO THIS. A child's life might end because of this crazy short cut!....Simply, don't DO this, PLEASE. His hubs 'tapped' out, mine took a hydraulic press, mostly of them do. It's all up to you at the end of the day..., but one thing is King, Brakes are someone's life. Don't mess with them. Thanks for the Vid. Was fascinating. Edited by Mark-Hans - 17 Nov 12 at 10:17 |
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jed the spread
PROBATION Bullshitter Joined: 13 Sep 05 Status: Offline Points: 1365 |
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No worries I hope some might find it useful.
Jed
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[URL=http://www.whatatool.com[/URL]
My real name is Jarrod Walsh my number is 07940177101 or email Jed@campervanCulture.com for enquiries. |
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corvusstation
Groupie Joined: 10 Sep 07 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 157 |
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Nice write up. When I did mine I went to the local hauliers and asked if they had anything rated to 500ftlbs upon which they presented me with a 5ft long 1000ftlb torque wrench plus sockets! It made the job a piece of cake and only cost me a crate of beer.
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Mark-Hans
Yardie turkey drummer Joined: 22 Jul 12 Location: Netherlands Status: Offline Points: 332 |
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Everything should be paid in Beer (or Vodka).
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lambretta lee
Vanorak Joined: 14 Oct 06 Location: Oxfordshire Status: Offline Points: 1714 |
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surfingmonkey1
Groupie Joined: 24 Jul 10 Location: Wimborne Status: Offline Points: 90 |
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Hi, this is brilliant!
I have managed to follow it all until getting to the circlip behind the inner oil seal - just can't figure that bit out Any ideas/pics? |
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max and caddy
Vanorak Joined: 12 Dec 09 Location: Lancaster..uk Status: Offline Points: 4866 |
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Not sure where your at but I will take half a crate of beer for a go on my 1000 nm torque wrench anytime..! You did mean nm? 500 ft pounds for the rear nuts is to tight...by a good bit. Edited by max and caddy - 18 Mar 13 at 19:48 |
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