From: Dale & Sheila Olson
Date: Mon, 07 May 2001
Subject: Re: Front wheel bearings

If you are replacing both the bearing and race (highly recommended as they
usually come as a set) you will have to use a long punch and hammer and tap
the old race out of the hub and the new race in.  Make sure you don't let
the race get "cocked" at an angle in the hub.  Just tap all the way around
a little at a time and you will be fine.

To put the new race in, tap it down until it is flush with the edge of the
hub, then use the punch and circle around it until it seats against the
lip.  It's very obvious when it's down all the way.  This is also a very
good time to replace the grease seal in the back of the hubs.

Don't forget to "pack" the new bearings.  A coating on the inside and
outside of the rollers is NOT packing!  This is just about the most fun you
can have with wheel bearing grease and still be legal.  Surgeon's latex
gloves work good for this.  Put a gob of grease in the cup of the palm of
your hand and take the bearing and push the grease in the side of the
bearing between the rollers.  Keep pushing it in until it comes out the
other side.

I have heard of several different methods of making sure the big nut with
the cotter key through it is the right tightness.  One method that has
worked for me throughout the years is as follows:  With the caliper still
hanging off to the side (you did remember to use a piece of wire to prevent
strain on the lines and hoses, didn't you?)  spin the hub and tighten the
nut until you can feel the bearing start to drag.  Back it off to the next
notch back to line up with the hole through the shaft.  Or you could use
your handy-dandy inch pound torque wrench and convert to the metric specs
listed in the book (any ideas, anybody?)

Don't forget to put a NEW cotter key through the shaft and nut.  Reusing
the old one is a definite no-no and a bent six-penny nail just don't cut it.

Dale.

At 08:56 AM 5/7/01 -0400, Graham Thomas wrote:
   At 07:29 AM 5/7/01 -0400, Gerald Stanley wrote:
   Graham,
Wheel bearing, eh? Good. That's one mystery solved. Front or rear? Both
are old, and had parts changed around them recently.
The 318is has already taken over the role of project car -- locks and
windows stopped working today. Pirate on the antenna didn't help.

The symptoms are identical to the multiple wheel bearing failures I had on
the two Festivas (a total of about 6 or so between them), so I'm assuming
that's what it is. Loud hum that's road speed related.  I suspect the
right front, I'll check that. But, if both front bearings are a bit dated,
I might as well replace them both. Is this a home mechanic job or since I
lack a press should this be something a professional mechanic gets to do?
I wouldn't think it's too expensive.

Gruppe: Can anyone recommend a good car cover and cover vendor? I'm also
possibly going to get one of those portable carports, or car tents, or car
canopy, whatever you would call it.

Graham