Lew wrote:
Hello again list,
I am getting ready to replace front and rear wheel bearings in my MkI spit.
Is there anything I should keep in mind/look for while doing this?
thanks,
Lew 63 and 67 spit
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Yes - with respect to the front bearings, make sure the felt side of the
oil seals (you are replacing the oil seals, too, right?) are facing the
correct way - ISTM recall they face toward the upright, not out toward the
rotor. Also, per the Bentley manual, BEFORE greasing up the bearings,
etc., assemble everything DRY, tighten the castlated nut down until the
rotor turns, but you feel some resistance, mark how far down you tightened
everything on the shaft, then disassemble, grease everything and tighten it
down to the prior mark. It WILL feel TOO tight at first, but this is
normal. It will loosen up over time. Also, RECHECK then nut and tightness
after a few hundred miles!
With respect to the rears, well, errh, that's a bit more tricky. The hub
has to be removed to get to the trunnion in which the bearings sit. The
hub is a press fit with a woodruff key. The hub requires many TONS of
pressure to pull it off. Triumph used to make a "Churchill" tool for this
job - but it is damn near impossible to find in the U.S., and expensive to
buy and ship from the UK for one bearing job. Some of the list members
have fabricated their own tool for removing the rear hub - ask them for
assistance. I used an ox-acet torch, a gigantic gear puller, sweat and
cursing to remove mine - one popped free after 15 minutes or so, the other
got so hot it warped and is now a paper weight. Some have had success
taking the hubs to a machine shop specializing in LBCs. I personally would
avoid the local TRAK Auto Supply or Pep Boys - they may trash the hubs
which are VERY expensive to replace. When (if) you get the hubs off and
replace the bearings, I would not recommend anti-sieze as some listers
recommended on prior occasions. The whole point of the press fit is that
it is based on a friction fit. If there is not enough friction the little
woodruff key takes on more stress than it was designed for.
Good luck and let me know if you want more details......
Ross D. Vincenti
64 Spitfire 4
64 Porsche 356C Coupe
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