Changing Front Wheel Bearing on '86 Tercel

[RocketWagon]

Can the inner bearing race that presses into the knuckle be re & re'd without a press? Looks like could be driven out and then in again with a bearing/seal driver. Anyone done it this way before?

Thanks, Greg

[burtonridr]

I very rarely use a press for bearings. The inner race can be removed by using a flat head screw driver or punch to drive it out from the opposite side.

To install to new race, start by tapping in the race with a hammer. Just a little at a time, little on the right, little on the left, little on the top, etc. Do it softly.

When you get the race flush with the housing, get a deep well socket that has the same outer diameter as the race and use it to seat it all the way into the housing.

Hope that makes sense. Let me know if you have questions.

[RocketWagon]

Thanks for the reply burtonridr.

I removed the old race from the knuckle with a large cold chisel, then installed the new one with the proper size disc from the bearing/seal driver set that I bought today from NAPA, worked like a charm. I had to remove the races that the hub pushes into, but that was no big thing. You may be able to use a hammer if you were very careful but as the bearings are right there I didn't want to take the chance hitting them.

I got the race off the hub by using the bearing splitter set that I bought as well. Yes, I had to buy a few new tools to do this job, but a man never has enough tools right?

Greg