Front wheel inside bearing

[canyncarvr]

Reading an old thread the other day, the OP mentioned pulling the inside bearing out without removing the seal. It was a '73 disk brake car IIRC. There was a good bit of, 'You can't do that,' 'The bearing must be too small!' and such.

I've taken the inside bearing out that way forever. Never really thought how bad/terrible/awful it might be.

I'm not asking what's right, what the FSM says to do. I am asking how many folks pull the inner bearing out withOUT removing the seal first, and have never had a problem doing it. I've done it, have not had any seal leak afterward. Granted, I'm talking about the one A-body I own, not dozens or hundreds of cars.

Opinions anyone?

 

[toolmanmike]

The seal holds the bearing in the hub. You can't get the bearing through the seal. The od of the bearing is larger than the id of the seal. Are you talking about spinning the nut back on catch the bearing to pull iy and the seal out at the same time? Yes that can be done.

 

[niceolddart]

I've never done this or seen this done. I would think if it COULD be done, the seal would be ruined at least.

 

[RustyRatRod]

A lot of times they'll pop right through the seal. I normally push down on the rotor or drum as I'm pulling the rotor or drum off so the bearing will catch the metal part of the seal and remove it too. I do this because sometime just pulling the seal over the seal and allowing the seal to remain will tear the rubber part of the seal. So I remove seal and all. Also normally, I replace the seal anyway.

 

[Syleng1]

I would never remove the bearing and reuse the seal. Cheap insurance. Also, the tension spring that typically is on the inner side of the seal gets ruined.
Again- just because you can do some thing does not mean you SHOULD do it.
The interweb is full of brain-ie-acks that think they re-invented the wheel.

 

[remytherat]

I’ve done it, it works fine. Didn’t hurt the seal at all.

 

[canyncarvr]

1. You can't get the bearing through the seal.

Yes. I can.

2. Pulling the bearing and seal out at the same time.

NOT saying that.

3. A lot of times they will pop right through the seal.

Exactly.

4. I would never....

NO argument that it's a good thing to do, not a reasonable or half-way sensible thing to do....none of which says it can't happen.

5. I've done it, it works fine. Didn't hurt the seal at all.

That has been my repeated experience.