So I had my new wheel bearing pressed on my shafts and then discovered I had my brackets reversed for my brakes. Can I have the bearings pressed of and re-use them or do I need to cut them off and buy new bearings?
axel and wheel bearing question
- Thread starter gunnerdog
- Start date
ultrastang
Founding Member
Unfortunately, new or not, axle bearings are only good for one pressing.
If they have to come back off, they are trash can material.
I can't see why. If one press doesn't hurt them, why would two? Now, the retaining ring, I wouldn't use twice. I don't think you can get them separately from the bearing.
I take it by "brackets" you mean the bearing retainer plate with four bolt holes. The guys pressing them should have noticed.
I take it by "brackets" you mean the bearing retainer plate with four bolt holes. The guys pressing them should have noticed.
ultrastang
Founding Member
The act of pressing the bearings and retainers stretches them as they are forced onto the journal of the axle.
They will not have as tight a grip the second go 'round if they are pulled off and then put back on again, which means they can separate from the axle allowing the axle to come out of the housing.
A second confirmation of what I just said about the bearings being a 1-shot deal in a tech article from Mustangs Plus:
"The rear wheel bearing and the bearing retainer are pressed onto the axle. Since this requires the use of a hydraulic press, which most people do not have access to, this job should be done by a competent shop. I say competent shop for a couple of reasons. You only get one shot at pressing on a rear wheel bearing and retainer. Once the bearing and the retainer have been "stretched" onto the axle, they're meant to stay there. If they're pressed off and then on again, they will go on easier the second time and not have the holding power that they're supposed to."
--Entire rear axle bearing article at this link: Mustangs Plus - Tech Articles - Rear Wheel Bearings (Page 1)
They will not have as tight a grip the second go 'round if they are pulled off and then put back on again, which means they can separate from the axle allowing the axle to come out of the housing.
A second confirmation of what I just said about the bearings being a 1-shot deal in a tech article from Mustangs Plus:
"The rear wheel bearing and the bearing retainer are pressed onto the axle. Since this requires the use of a hydraulic press, which most people do not have access to, this job should be done by a competent shop. I say competent shop for a couple of reasons. You only get one shot at pressing on a rear wheel bearing and retainer. Once the bearing and the retainer have been "stretched" onto the axle, they're meant to stay there. If they're pressed off and then on again, they will go on easier the second time and not have the holding power that they're supposed to."
--Entire rear axle bearing article at this link: Mustangs Plus - Tech Articles - Rear Wheel Bearings (Page 1)
dennis112
15 Year Member
I found this to be true in practice too. They stretch and pulling them back off makes them even more loose so it couldn't be reused. I never did find a source for just the retainer ring and ended up having to buy a new bearing.
I remember seeing a car going down the freeway one time and watching the real axle sliding out. Luckily that driver got his car off the road and stopped before it came out completely. I have heard stories of accidents caused by the loss of a real axle. Everything I've looked at on the subject says you get one shot to press the bearing on. If you have to take it off again, it's useless.
My take is, better safe than sorry. Buy a new bearing and keep an eye on those shop guys when they press it on.
My take is, better safe than sorry. Buy a new bearing and keep an eye on those shop guys when they press it on.
65ShelbyClone
Founding Member
Aside from the center race getting stretched, I see a potential problem in that removing the bearing requires pushing against the outer race. I don't know what the static load rating is for the average rear wheel bearing, but it's probably not 40,000lbs in a 90° thrust direction.
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