I don't understand how to change the front wheel bearings. On mazdatrix's FAQ: http://www.mazdatrix.com/faq/frontbrg.htm They show how to remove the race. Do I have to remove the race to do the bearings? If you look at the fourth picture on the page and compare it to the final picture you will notice that the seal and outer bearing were removed in the fourth picture, BEFORE they remove the race.

Can anyone help me out here? What do I need to do to remove the outer bearing and seal?

 

What are you trying to do? If you're replacing the bearings then the races should be replaced at the same time. If your just repacking the bearings, all you need to do is pop out the grease seals. Use a blunt object like a big screwdriver and slowly work it out. Once you get the seal out, the bearing will just "fall" out.

Henrik
87TII

 

Thanks for the reply, I think you answered my question.

When you say the race "should" be replaced at the same time, is that just sort of recommended or is it virtually required? Where can I get the race?

 

Snurb,

The race should be replaced when replacing hte wheel bearings.

The point of replacing the wheel bearings is because they no longer offer smooth rotation. With this fact in mind that means the bearings is binding against itself and it is scoring or running against the race.

There are case that if hte bearing completely seized it would spin on the spindle and mess it up bad. U will be bale to see this damage if this has occured.

There are two bearings inside the hub. Inner and outer.
outer is a smaller bearing. The inner bearing is bigger.
In order to remove the inner (bigger) bearing u will need to take out the oil seal.

U will need a new oil seal too... i have yet to find a way of taking this seal out without damaging it.

You do not need to grind the hub to take the race out... if u put the hub on a vice, and gently secure it on the studs. Get some punches. Sharpen them so that they look like points and mini chisels. Start trying to get a sharpend punch into the edge of the race and start knockig the race out.

good luck.

 

Hmm...you have a point...

Seeing as I need the car going tomorrow afternoon and I can't see any damage to the race, I think I'm going to have to chance it.

I already have the inner & outer bearing and the seal.

 

I just realized something...Damn I'm dumb. I hadn't looked at my replacement bearings in about a week and I didn't realize they have races with them. I'm still not sure if I'm going to take them out...

 

the problem with old races is that teh bearing wears them, a groove forms. The new bearings may catch on the groove and get damaged

 

Take them out. If your old bearings are so bad they need to be replaced, then the races are probably that bad, too. If you install the new bearings into the old races, the old races may tear them up. You will be doing this all over again.

 

You're probably right about the life of the bearings being effected. I don't have the luxury of the time required to do the races.

 

well, do you have the luxury of the time (and money!) required to do the bearings AND races at a later date, because you'll have to

 

I don't have any choice, work wants me there this afternoon. They won't be happy that I'm going to be late. I'm already working this morning (and as we speak stuff is happening) so I really only have a hour or so to do it.

Relistically do I have the time and money in the future? No, but I have no choice.

 

Sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do.

 

wouldn't a wheel bearing rebuild it come with the races anyway?

 

The races can be knocked out with a long punch sharpened so that the tip will fit under the edge of the race. The Mazdatrix way works, too, if you have the pieces they recommend, but a friend of mine knocked out both of my front races in about 10 minutes using just a sharp punch.