bc,

thanks for the advice on replacing front wheel bearing on my 245. just a couple of questions.

what size is the nut holding the hub on?

what torque setting is required to put it back together?

i ask because i can't get hold of a haynes here in ozzie for several weeks and i aint got time to wait.

thanks again

mark.../

Mark -

I found my notes in my old Haynes, from when I did my 1983 245 FWB's after driving thru a 2-ft of water curb drain area (splashed plumb over the windshield!). The caliper bolts are 19mm and the hub is 15/16" which I think is 22mm.

Things to remember: (1) The heated hub and frozen bearing race system really helps if you don't have a press to install the new inner and outer races. (2) The other post on your first re: seals, right way and wrong way - follow it exactly. (3) Use gobs of grease everywhere. Pack the bearings, fill the hub, coat the races, coat the seal, coat the spindle. Use a high-temperature grease.

The final adjustment from Haynes: Once the washer and nut are in place, hand tighten til steady. Then "Spin the hub in a forward direction while tightening the spindle nut to approximately 20 ft-lbs to seat the bearing."

Loosen the nut 1/4 turn, then hand tighten until the washer can barely be moved with a screwdriver tip. Then install cotter pin, backing off nut if necessary.

Check the play, spin and listen and check again. Make the dust cap 1/2 full of grease before installing. Then re-install caliper and you're off. Remember to pump up brakes B4 driving off. DAMHIK (pronounced dammit).

In looking at Haynes, it does have a good layout on this job, even to showing how to use palm to pack the bearing with grease.

Best Luck, hope this helps.

Bob

:>)

PS Where is "here in ozzie..." ?? Sounds like Australia.

"...heated hub and frozen bearing race system really helps if you don't have a press to install the new inner and outer races..."

Really -- All you need is a hefty brass punch and good-sized ball peen hammer -- and maybe somebody to show you how -- and you can have those bearing and cups in 'n out 'n in 'n out in no time. And 'cause you won't need to heat the hub you won't need to clean out all the grease packed up inside.....

A thought to ponder over your next cold one: A frozen bearing cup will condense moisture, introducing water onto the bearing surface....

Best to use long fiber wheel bearing grease.

Don -

Thanks for the answer. I've used the heat-n-freeze thing so long that I've never tried it otherwise. Next time I will.

Regards,

Bob

:>)

BC --

I can get away with plug wires 'n distributor caps in the dishwasher, but wheel hubs in the oven (can you imagine the smell of half-baked grease?) might push wife over the edge.
















Hmmmm...........

Using the oven is kinda crude. Why not do it outside in the barbeque? Could add new meaning to "smoked a bearing".

Mmmm... Yes, and toss on a couple burgers and hot dogs. How about some linguica? Linguica's REALLY good basted with that long-fiber, hi-temp wheel bearing grease. Slides down real easy that way.

But as I said, I use a hammer 'n brass punch. This saves on the briquettes.

"But as I said, I use a hammer 'n brass punch. This saves on the briquettes."

Yeah, I haven't had a lot of luck with the briquettes holding up to a hammer and punch either.

Besides -- trying to hit a punch with a glowing briquet can be tough, particularly if you've been into the punch.

bob,

again thanks for the advice. ozzie is indeed australia. sydney australia.

i've lifted the front end and had a poke around and looks easy enough. called my local parts store to ask for a bearing kit.

"would that be for a girling caliper sir?"

doh!

to girling or not to girling? how do i tell? girling is a type is it not?

thanks again bob

mark.../

Mark -

I thought Australia was shortened to Aussie, is that now passe?

Girling calipers have a logo mark, I think on the back. Looks like a G where the cross bar is an arm, the hand grabbing the main arc of the letter.

Another way is to check the info sticker. Open trunk, look at right side upper body edge, it's a long skinny sticker. It has number codes for what kind of front and rear calipers, steerng rack, a few others.

Good Luck,

Bob

:>)

PS Is it true that the label on a KB beer can has a sandy feel so as to make it more difficult to drop as the grip weakens with higher consumption?

That's what I was told at a meeting of the Australia-Ew Zealand Club of Houston. Great party, I hope it's typical.

bob,

aussie is the correct term. i just use ozzie and always have. don't think it makes too much difference.

sandy grips on beer? sounds like something we'd do in the pursuit of perfect beer drinking. we do have stubby holders (stubbies are what we call beer bottles) that serve to keep the beer cold while you drink. sounds wacky but the beer stays ice cold right to the last drop and once tried you can never drink without one. does get hot 'up top' in ozzie!

i've not seen kb in ozzie so i'll guess the kiwis can lay claim to this neat trick.

thanks again for your help bob.

mark../

bob,

kb.. could you mean VB? vb is a big beer here. stands for victoria bitter.

mark.../