Hey all.

I have a full brake kit from RockAuto, and started by seating the wheel bearing cup into the back of the rotor before beginning to pack the bearings. I attempted at seating the bearing cup level about 5 or 6 times, but to no avail. It still sits at a slight angle no matter how I attempt to seat it. Any thoughts or ideas? Can I install it like this and will it be okay as is?

I haven’t done this before, as I’ve only replaced rotors and pads on a 2007 Camry which didn’t have wheel bearings within the rotors haha.

I hope you can get a good enough idea of what I’m talking about here:


Thanks in advance,
Pascal

 

Whay you have there is the inner bearing race. To seat it properly, I always make sure the rotor is free and clean of any debris or casting splatter or burrs. Following that, I apply a very lightly coat of wheel bearing grease to the rotor where the race is driven in and a very light coat of grease to the outer edge of the race itself. Then I center the race as best as I am able and drive it in. You can use a seal driver and a hammer and seat it with a punch if need be. But making sure the surfaces are clean and prepped is really key in my opinion.

 

Usually, when the race is almost completely in, as is yours, it is square. There might be something such as a metal chip between the seat and race. Can you remove the race, inspect and try installing again? Do you have a hydraulic press? Although not necessary, it would make the job alot easier. Alternatively, I would suggest taking it to a machine shop and have them fix it. Personally, I wouldn't use it unless the race was perfectly seated and square.

 

Running it like that will ruin the bearing, and when that goes, it seizes and ruins the spindle. Depending on your year, uprights and spindles are getting very hard to find.

Get it to a machine shop and let them look at it,

 

What tools are you using to seat it?

 

Thank you for the replies everyone. I will definitely add a little grease when re-installing the race. I spent a good amount of time really cleaning the inside of the rotor as there was quite a bit of casting debris, but will double check where the rear race goes.
I do not have a seal driver kit but will be getting one to do the job properly haha. If I still can’t seat it properly, I’ll bring it to a shop.
Thank you all! Really appreciate it

 

I like to use a bearing seat tool like this.