Removing stuck inner front wheel bearing

[ChrisB]

I am having some problems removing this bearing. I may have messed it up already trying to use my gear puller behind the seal and possibly bent the cage.

Any ideas? I know it is NOT supposed to slip on the spindle but this one is really tight.

[Henry K. Lee]

Sharpen an old common screw driver, install behind the bearing and strike with a hammer slightly at multiple degrees. Should start walking out from the seal wearing surface. When you do get it off, take some machinist cloth and sand down the rough spot.

Hope this Helps,

Hank

[Kerry]

Chris, later stub axles have a flat spot either side to drift the bearing off,

if a early stub then start with a chisel, the seal runs on the shoulder on the bearing so it will come off with the bearing.

[ChrisB]

Thanks guys, I got it, had to move up 1 hammer size and filed a chisel down flat and pounded away.

I checked the bearing against another spindle and it slides right on.

I took some emery cloth to the spindle very lightly, it did not seem to have a high spot.

[mbowen]

I am relatively new to the model T world and am trying to repack the front wheel bearings for the first time. My inner bearings are not stuck on the spindle as is the case with the original poster of this thread. Mine seems to be stuck in the hub. On all the wheel bearings I’ve ever worked on the inner seal was a light press fit in the hub and would tap out with a wooden hammer handle from the opposite side. Not so with these. I’ve used a thick aluminum angle as a drift and can’t get it to budge. Is there something I’m missing? The Model T Ford Service manual seems to be mute on the subject.

[John.Zibell]

I am relatively new to the model T world and am trying to repack the front wheel bearings for the first time. My inner bearings are not stuck on the spindle as is the case with the original poster of this thread. Mine seems to be stuck in the hub. On all the wheel bearings I’ve ever worked on the inner seal was a light press fit in the hub and would tap out with a wooden hammer handle from the opposite side. Not so with these. I’ve used a thick aluminum angle as a drift and can’t get it to budge. Is there something I’m missing? The Model T Ford Service manual seems to be mute on the subject.

You will probably have to sacrifice the seal. Use a seal puller to get it off. Have new seals handy to replace the old ones.A seal puller looks like the one pictured in this link. https://www.amazon.com/Lisle-56750-Seal ... 0665&psc=1

[speedytinc]

I am relatively new to the model T world and am trying to repack the front wheel bearings for the first time. My inner bearings are not stuck on the spindle as is the case with the original poster of this thread. Mine seems to be stuck in the hub. On all the wheel bearings I’ve ever worked on the inner seal was a light press fit in the hub and would tap out with a wooden hammer handle from the opposite side. Not so with these. I’ve used a thick aluminum angle as a drift and can’t get it to budge. Is there something I’m missing? The Model T Ford Service manual seems to be mute on the subject.

Someone may have locktited or used silicone to glue it in. I have never not got them removed by drifting on the bearing from the opposite side. Some can be pretty sticky. Try a little more aggression.

[mbowen]

Thanks for the replies John and John. I will try a bit more aggression, but in the event I have to pry the seals out, is T-2841 the correct replacement?

[mbowen]

Got it. The problem was that I had the support blocks out on the tire and there was too much rebound. I moved the blocks to the hub and the seal and bearing popped out with just a few hits. I should have known better…

[kmatt2]

I am glad you got your inner bearing off ok. On really stuck hard bearings using a drift punch like that is likely to get the bearing cocked on the spindle and stick even tighter. After cutting the inter seal off try using a small bearing separator. Remove spindle from axel, place bearing separator behind bearing, screw the spindle lock nut on spindle castle side in. Now use your shop press to press the spindle straight down with the bearing separator holding the bearing. The process is kind of like removing a rear wheel bearing from a more modern 1960’s car axle.

[speedytinc]

Thanks for the replies John and John. I will try a bit more aggression, but in the event I have to pry the seals out, is T-2841 the correct replacement?

Yes. modern #'s 204038 national & 17617 CR.

[mbowen]

I am glad you got your inner bearing off ok. On really stuck hard bearings using a drift punch like that is likely to get the bearing cocked on the spindle and stick even tighter. After cutting the inter seal off try using a small bearing separator. Remove spindle from axel, place bearing separator behind bearing, screw the spindle lock nut on spindle castle side in. Now use your shop press to press the spindle straight down with the bearing separator holding the bearing. The process is kind of like removing a rear wheel bearing from a more modern 1960’s car axle.

The bearing and seal stayed with the hub when I pulled the wheel off the spindle. I had trouble getting the seal out of the hub.

[Steve Jelf]

Some of my seal numbers are different.

[ThreePedalTapDancer]

Sometimes you just need a bigger hammer.

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[Allan]

Myles, if you use a drift to drive the bearing out, the seal will come with it. There is no need to remove the seal first.

Hope this helps.

Allan from down under.