Rear wheel bearing replacement question

[onkauai]

I started this thread some time ago, which resulted from a quote of $US1,400 to replace a rear wheel bearing. The mechanic stated that I needed to replace both the bearing and the axle, that this was standard practice.

To make a long story short, it turns out the mechanic was wrong on all counts. The problem was with both rear tires, not with the bearing.

By the way, I know there are quite a few who have changed a bearing or two. The 32mm nut requires 340 foot pounds of torque! The biggest torque wrench I've found handles only 250 foot-lbls. How do you guys do that without spending a ton of money on a torque wrench suitable for a 40,000 lb fire engine?

[Jager]

Originally Posted by onkauai

I started this thread some time ago, which resulted from a quote of $US1,400 to replace a rear wheel bearing. The mechanic stated that I needed to replace both the bearing and the axle, that this was standard practice.

To make a long story short, it turns out the mechanic was wrong on all counts. The problem was with both rear tires, not with the bearing.

By the way, I know there are quite a few who have changed a bearing or two. The 32mm nut requires 340 foot pounds of torque! The biggest torque wrench I've found handles only 250 foot-lbls. How do you guys do that without spending a ton of money on a torque wrench suitable for a 40,000 lb fire engine?

Yes, you will need 3/4" drive tools. The Breaker Bar might have to handle 600lbs of torque!!

[mikesz]

is there a link for casper labs and the bearing tool?

[stateofidleness]

*subscribed*

Interested in this tool.

[Eric G]

Originally Posted by mikesz

is there a link for casper labs and the bearing tool?

No link for Casper Labs, but give him a call as he is down in Florida and a gem of a person to work with. I found him through our Regional Porsche club here in the PNW. He is friends with one of our members and when I told him about my rebuild he said to give him a call.

[Gilles]

Eric, I sent you a PM
Thanks!

[Frodo]

Originally Posted by onkauai

By the way, I know there are quite a few who have changed a bearing or two. The 32mm nut requires 340 foot pounds of torque! The biggest torque wrench I've found handles only 250 foot-lbls. How do you guys do that without spending a ton of money on a torque wrench suitable for a 40,000 lb fire engine?

In case anyone still wonders how to do this..

When I did mine, I went back to basic physics:

Torque = Force (in lb) X Distance (in feet)

Rearrange the equation and pop in the numbers you know (specified torque and your weight). I weigh about 195 lb, so for me:

Distance = Torque/Force

=340 ft-lb/195 lb
=1.74 ft, or about 21 inches

So I used a breaker bar and used my entire weight applied about 21" out from the nut to tighten it. When using this technique, try to do the final tightening with the breaker bar parallel to the ground, and apply your weight in a straight downward direction.

[Gilles]

after replacing the wheel bearing, do you push the hub until bottoms out?

Or do you have to leave some clearance for the bearing cover bolts?

It's my first time replacing the rear bearings and was going to measure the passenger side before removing it (but honestly, I am not looking forward to do it.. since the driver side was a bear to remove).

Thanks in advance.