As the continued saga of my shop truck unfolds. After many set backs I was able to remove the stubborn bearing races from the front hubs. I tried a puller type remover first with a bolt and legs. I put the attachment on a slide hammer, still not moving. A center punch with a big hammer, still nothing. I ordered a new center punch for the air hammer. Done with ease. The next step would have been a welder. I have a good gear and bearing puller. This is the first time it didn’t work.

If you’re not familiar with the bearing and races. The bearing is a row of round steel rollers. The same concept as a ball bearing, but the increased width allows it to support more weight. The bearings need a hard smooth surface to roll in. The inside of the bearing sits on the spindle with a built in race or smooth machined hardened piece. If the bearing gets hot it can move or spin on the spindle and wear the spindle out. Like the spindle the cast iron hub is also much softer than the bearing. The outer race is a hardened ring pressed in the hub. Both are changed with the bearing.

The next post I will be assembling the hubs. Then moving on. The neglected rear brakes have been waiting patiently. Before I leave an explanation of the welder. Heat causes metal to expand. If I had a stubborn race on the outside of an axle or spindle I could heat it up with a torch. I had inside races. I was going to weld a bead on the surface of race. The weld would shrink as it cooled causing the race to come out. Until next time new cars are boring. You have a wrench might as well use it.