i am doing the wheel bearings on the front of my ea81 2wd this weekend. i am wondering if i have all the tools nessecary. do i need a puller? can i tap the old bearings out with a drift? can i use a big vice instead of a press? any advice

when i did mine i cheated, just went to the scrap yard and got a hole hub.. was alot easier, just made sure i repacked the bearing before installing. works like new..

mine is grinding and hopping a little, i dont think grease will help me.

Chef_Tim made a simple tool for doing wheel bearings. There's a picture of it in the gallery.

 

And

When I did the ones in the '86, I used a press at work. 1st time doing that on a Subaru.

When I did the ones in the '82, the first time, I used a press at work.

When one of the seals went bad and ruined a bearing on the '82. I did it in the garage with a 10" long drift punch and whammer. Biggest problem using punch and hammer method, is keeping the dadburned knuckle from moving across the floor when you whack the punch.

Although, using a press to do it isn't much easier, do to having to find the right pieces of metal spacers to hold the knuckle level. It be a pain.

Personnal preferance now is to use the punch and hammer method. I got a chunk of aluminum round stock, slightly smaller than the OD of the bearing to tap it in with.

Above all.... Don't be a dummy like me, and forget to put the spacer in between the bearings. Called myself all kinds of names over that one. Doesn't pay to get in a hurry!!!!

there are two on each wheel right?

napa just sold me two bearings, and two seals:banghead: to do the whole front end, at 60 bucks!

 

that sucked alot, i got half the parts i wanted, and payed about twice what i thought.

Yep. 2 bearings, 2 seals, each side of the vehicle. Same same, inner outer.

I use an old Suby wheel to set the hub in when I knock out the bearings.

Drift punch out. Then get a socket the same size as the outer race or use the old bearings for tapping back in. No need for a press, just make sure they are in good and solid. And NEVER tap on the inner race of the new bearings. This will deform the balls and they won't last very long.