APACTKO Posted November 8, 2012 Share Posted November 8, 2012 After having a tire shop put on new tires, i decided to have a look at all of my front suspension, reason being my previous tires were wearing a little funny. So i put a jack underneath the front end, put her up in the air, grab hold of the passanger front tire, and to my surprise the wheel rocks about 2mm back and forth from top to bottom, not side to side. Im not a mechanic, but i think it may be a wheel bearing. I have looked at buying wheel bearings and noticed that there are inners and outers. Can someone tell me if this is possible to do at home, or is this better left to a shop with a press. I have changed wheel hub bearings before, but this is obviously a completely different animal! This is a 1994 pathfinder 4x4, and any info would be greatly appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
APACTKO Posted November 8, 2012 Author Share Posted November 8, 2012 Wow what a stupid question, sorry NPORA! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leo94 Posted November 8, 2012 Share Posted November 8, 2012 That's not a stupid question we were all new to something at once and its always good to get a second opinion, I'm sure someone will chime in soon on your question. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ahardb0dy Posted November 8, 2012 Share Posted November 8, 2012 you could always pull the hub apart and check the bearings, if they look ok, re-grease and re-install, or while it's apart just replace them. When I first bought my 94 there was slight play so I pulled the hub apart, re-greased and re-installed, no problems with play since. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leo94 Posted November 8, 2012 Share Posted November 8, 2012 Make sure to get a copy of the FSM (Factory Service Manual) while your at it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Precise1 Posted November 8, 2012 Share Posted November 8, 2012 Ok, by your posts I assume you found some helpful threads? Remember, you can always take everything apart and just bring the rotor/hub in to a shop to have the races pressed out and in, then install them yourself. Lets you learn and save at labor... B 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
APACTKO Posted November 8, 2012 Author Share Posted November 8, 2012 Great info, thank you guys a bunch, im gonna pull it apart tomorrow. And yes, Precise1, i found some useful threads, i was just looking in the wrong place when i placed the post Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Precise1 Posted November 8, 2012 Share Posted November 8, 2012 No worries, glad you got on track. Obviously, we'll help if you need to ask... B Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
krmiller07 Posted November 8, 2012 Share Posted November 8, 2012 Another option to having the races pressed in, is to put the new races in a freezer for at least a 1/2 hour. While they are cooling off, use a hand held MAP gas or propane torch to heat up the outer hub with the brake rotor on it, making sure to heat it evenly all the way around the hub. Theres NO need to get it so hot it starts turning cherry red or glowing hot. Just hot enough for the metal to expand and allow the bearing races to either fall out, or they will drop out after you rap the assy on a piece of wood when you bang it on a shop table. Once the old race has been removed. Re-heat the hub assembly, and take the NEW frozen bearing race and drop it into the hub. Once it cools off, it will be fit squarely inside the bearing and hub. No need for a press. What happens here, is the metal where the bearing race lives, will expand from the heat, while the new 'frozen' bearing race will contract or shrink by freezing it. Once the whole thing returns to room tetemperatureith the race is installed, everything fits nice and snug and is fit 'squarely' in the hub assembly with no chance of the race becoming 'cocked' or crooked in the hub from pressing it into place. Hope this helps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Precise1 Posted November 8, 2012 Share Posted November 8, 2012 ^Very well said, I have used this trick for fitting things for decades and it can be invaluable for installation or disassembly. B Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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