QUESTION
I have just purchased new rear wheel bearings plus seals from Lotus Marques to install in a 1982 Lotus Eclat and I have some questions.
Do the new rear bearings come with the sleeve or just the inner/outer seals and roller bearings?
The sleeve from the old bearing is still in the housing cylinder and seems quite unwilling to come out.
I have not forced it as I don't want to score the surface.
If I need to remove it, how do you do it (or recommend I do it keeping in mind I don't have a shop full of mechanics tools)?
T.P. - Winmarlee, NSW
ANSWER
The new rear wheel bearings are a double ball race construction with an inner and outer sleeve.
The entire bearing including the outer sleeve must be removed before a new bearing can be installed.
The following instructions assume the drive-shaft and hub has been removed to access the bearing.
To remove the outer sleeve its is necessary to remove both seals and the outboard circlip that retains the bearing in the alloy bearing housing.
Next, gently heat the bearing housing (so it expands) prior to using a hydraulic press and appropriate press tools to remove the outer sleeve.
If you don't have the appropriate equipment, then its advisable to find someone who can carry out this operation without damaging the alloy housing.
Once the outer sleeve has been removed, the bearing housing should be thoroughly cleaned and inspected for wear etc.
The housing should then be re-heated and the new bearing carefully pressed in to its location.
NOTE - It is imperative that the bearing be installed using the correct mandrel that locates on the external bearing race (outer sleeve) otherwise the bearing will sustain internal damage and fail prematurely.
It is also important to ensure the wheel bearing retaining circlip is located correctly within the mating groove otherwise the bearing, drive-shaft and hub will move out of the alloy housing.
Copyright © 2012 Lotus Marques
I have just purchased new rear wheel bearings plus seals from Lotus Marques to install in a 1982 Lotus Eclat and I have some questions.
Do the new rear bearings come with the sleeve or just the inner/outer seals and roller bearings?
The sleeve from the old bearing is still in the housing cylinder and seems quite unwilling to come out.
I have not forced it as I don't want to score the surface.
If I need to remove it, how do you do it (or recommend I do it keeping in mind I don't have a shop full of mechanics tools)?
T.P. - Winmarlee, NSW
ANSWER
The new rear wheel bearings are a double ball race construction with an inner and outer sleeve.
The entire bearing including the outer sleeve must be removed before a new bearing can be installed.
The following instructions assume the drive-shaft and hub has been removed to access the bearing.
To remove the outer sleeve its is necessary to remove both seals and the outboard circlip that retains the bearing in the alloy bearing housing.
Next, gently heat the bearing housing (so it expands) prior to using a hydraulic press and appropriate press tools to remove the outer sleeve.
If you don't have the appropriate equipment, then its advisable to find someone who can carry out this operation without damaging the alloy housing.
Once the outer sleeve has been removed, the bearing housing should be thoroughly cleaned and inspected for wear etc.
The housing should then be re-heated and the new bearing carefully pressed in to its location.
NOTE - It is imperative that the bearing be installed using the correct mandrel that locates on the external bearing race (outer sleeve) otherwise the bearing will sustain internal damage and fail prematurely.
It is also important to ensure the wheel bearing retaining circlip is located correctly within the mating groove otherwise the bearing, drive-shaft and hub will move out of the alloy housing.
Copyright © 2012 Lotus Marques