Hi,
I'm having issues removing the front wheel bearing hub nut ring in my offside front arm. I have the correct tool and the nearside one came apart relatively easily. As far as I can tell the offside one is seized solid. I've drilled the peening out and doused the joint in penetrating oil, but with the arm in a vice we can't get the ring to shift even with a half length scaffolding pole on the tool and I'm seriously concerned I'm going to snap the half inch drive in the top of the tool...

Thinking this didn't seem right I dug out several spare front arms and I'm now at the total of 1 removed ring and 4 seized rings. Am I having an unlucky break or is this pretty much par for the course? If so that seems weird as loads of people on here suggest they've changed wheel bearings implying they just whipped 'em out and popped in a new one etc.

I note ECAS suggest its common they seize and that they often need destroying to remove, and someone on here suggests drilling in the thin bits. Is this the best method. If so, I'm glad the arms are off the car or this would be a pig of a job! Cheers for any advice.

drilling in the thin bits; sounds good to me..

Maybee you can put a flame on it, heat it up and try again, it can work to....

Or put WD40 on it 2 or 3 times a day for a week long and try again....

As mentioned already, try heat and use plenty or bore 2 5 mm holes through the ring nut and chisel it out but be VERY CAREFUL not destroying the thread and the bearing.

Won't a flame just melt the plastic bits in the wheel bearing sides? The car is apart for restoration rather than because the wheel bearings have failed. I'm hoping to reuse them both after repacking with new grease as the old stuff has dried out and gone solid... Sounds like drilling may be the way forward.

I thought the bearing was gone, why would you take it out otherwise, just for fun??

Get a thread file BEFORE removing them. It WILL come handy.

yup you really need a good rattle gun to shock it

if it really is stuck then drill 3mm hole in the middle of the cutout then go up in drill sizes till its just at the point of breaking in to the thread. then punch the ring inwards till you see the rust begin to crack then unscrew with the tool. the broken ring acts like a tap clearing out the thread.

the replacements aren't always done to good standard and sometimes need fettling

If you are going to that sort of trouble, would fitting a new bearing be that much hassle?

The new rings are not great so I'd be inclined to give it some heat and as it cools douse it in WD40, this will get sucked into the thread as the ring cools.

In answer to you lpgo, yes I'm taking the bearings out for fun. They probably are alright but I'm rebuilding the car and want to check / fix / resolve everything as it goes back together as it has been standing for eight years. I'll start by drilling and if that fails then heat...

Hi 2CViking ..... (or anyone else

Can you please point me to where I can get an internal and external thread file for this item?

Cheers

Roger