Struggling with doing a wheel bearing.

[Nickanator8]

Hey guys, I'm needing to do the rear wheel bearing on my Boxster and it's becoming an incredibly taxing experience. I'm looking for some help/words of encouragement.

Here is where I am at so far: the brake rotor is off, the axel is disconnected, and the axel nut is off. According to the only YouTube video I can find of someone else doing this job I need to disconnect the tow link and control arm. I'm working on the tow link right now and it does not want to budge. I'm limited to hand tools and PB Blaster right now and I don't feel like I'm making progress.

Here is the "tutorial" I'm following. https://youtu.be/FcN3SQ_0ZWU?si=YGOUpz-jNfhV08P8

Any help is appreciated.

[Nickanator8]

So, I tried some persuasion with a hammer and it did nothing. I thought I should step away for a minute and decided to put the old nut back on just so it doesn't grow legs. Whelp, my banging messed up the threads and now I can't get the nut back on. Delightful.

[elgyqc]

Post #4 in this thread explains how I did it in my car without removing the suspension.
http://986forum.com/forums/boxster-general-discussions/79471-my-boxster-journey.html
You do have to remove the drive shaft, it can be pushed out of the bearing using a standard puller. Hook the arms of the puller on the hub flange, then tighten the screw of the puller against the center of the half shaft and it will push the half-shaft in through the bearing.
Then remove the hub...
http://986forum.com/forums/performance-technical-chat/81070-my-home-made-hub-puller.html#post638442
(if you don't have my hub puller (which you don't because the only one in existence is still in my garage) other methods are mentioned in the thread).
Then a bearing puller to pull the bearing.

[Wret]

I've done replaced every bearing, suspension arm and axle axle at least twice on my car. These tools are indispensable for the job:
1. Hub puller
2. Ball joint separator not just any one. Some don't have a low enough profile to get the Porsche joints.
3. Wheel bearing removal tool.

[Nickanator8]

Originally Posted by Wret

I've done replaced every bearing, suspension arm and axle axle at least twice on my car. These tools are indispensable for the job:
1. Hub puller
2. Ball joint separator not just any one. Some don't have a low enough profile to get the Porsche joints.
3. Wheel bearing removal tool.

Thanks for this! Any suggestions regarding the hub puller? All the ones I am seeing for sale assume that the car has wheel studs. Will I be able to tighten the lug studs down far enough or do I need a different kind of tool?

[Nickanator8]

OK guys, this is becoming really frustrating for me and I'm hoping a short video will help. I've been trying to do this job for (checks transaction history) 33 days and I just want to drive my car again.

https://youtu.be/Sn_vj-lRJZA?si=BqNrBsApvf0c7kX3

I hope this video is helpful in diagnosing what I need to do to finish this job.

Also, thanks to those who have already chimed in and helped out! This community is fantastic and I'm super appreciative of everyone here.

[Homeoboxter]

I haven't done this particular job but a plausible next step seems to be removing the driveshaft completely. On mine it came out easily when I rebuilt the CV joints, I just had to tap the end of the shaft gently and it slided out (in). Put the nut back onto the shaft so you avoid hitting the thread accidentally. Then you will need to separate the ball joint with a matching ball joint separator. Then I think the whole bearing carrier unit should slide down. When you are at this point, I'd take the the whole unit to a shop to get them replace the bearing because it requires a press. Also, if it took you 33 days to get this far, you'll save yourself a whole bunch of time if you let them do it.

[JFP in PA]

Originally Posted by Nickanator8

OK guys, this is becoming really frustrating for me and I'm hoping a short video will help. I've been trying to do this job for (checks transaction history) 33 days and I just want to drive my car again.

https://youtu.be/Sn_vj-lRJZA?si=BqNrBsApvf0c7kX3

I hope this video is helpful in diagnosing what I need to do to finish this job.

Also, thanks to those who have already chimed in and helped out! This community is fantastic and I'm super appreciative of everyone here.

You need the correct tooling to do this job, including the ball joint tool:



What has taken you as month should have taken 45 min with all the right tools................

[Robert986]

Use a angle grinder to modify your silver ball joint tool. Remove LCA. 👍

[Nickanator8]

Originally Posted by JFP in PA

You need the correct tooling to do this job, including the ball joint tool:



What has taken you as month should have taken 45 min with all the right tools................

Oh, I'm aware this should have been relatively quick, it's just been a quagmire of confusion finding the correct tools. Thanks for being the first person to tell me what I actually need. I really appreciate it!

[JFP in PA]

There is nothing more frustrating, or time consuming, than trying to do a job without access to the necessary tooling.

And once you get the hub separated from the ball joint, how are you going to get the bearing out? You do not have anything to do that. Some shops would use a simple bearing press:


But a far better method is to use something like the Sir bearing tool, which removes it with the hub still mounted on the car, which we use:



All this stuff cost $, saves time, and gets the job done right in as little time as possible.

[obthomas]

HeHe You haven't even got to the hard part yet. Wait till you either have to do the bearing pressing at the care or remove the emergency brake cable so you can do it at the bench. Another few months?

[Nickanator8]

Originally Posted by JFP in PA

There is nothing more frustrating, or time consuming, than trying to do a job without access to the necessary tooling.

And once you get the hub separated from the ball joint, how are you going to get the bearing out? You do not have anything to do that. Some shops would use a simple bearing press:


But a far better method is to use something like the Sir bearing tool, which removes it with the hub still mounted on the car, which we use:



All this stuff cost $, saves time, and gets the job done right in as little time as possible.

I'm more than happy to buy the correct tools to get the job done correctly, it's just been a struggle to find what those tools are. It looks like the bearing removal tool is what I'm going to be ordering next.

[JFP in PA]

Then be prepared for some sticker shock, that Sir B90 master kit is retailing for around $800...............

[986tate]

A lot of parts stores will loan you an equivalent to that Sir Bearing tool

[Nickanator8]

Originally Posted by 986tate

A lot of parts stores will loan you an equivalent to that Sir Bearing tool

This is usually my first stop. There are several auto parts stores really close to me so I'll be stopping by to see if they happen to have the correct tool probably this weekend.

[JFP in PA]

Just make sure their tool has the correct adaptors for Porsche, as many do not.

[Nickanator8]

What should I look for in an adapter for a Porsche? Is it a size thing or a specific shape?

[JFP in PA]

Size and shape of the "horseshoe"; Sir makes one that fits Porsche only and is part of their master kit.

[JFP in PA]