When removing the rear hub to replace the rear wheel bearings, what is the proper method to move the little collar in the upper hub mount so that the hub can be pulled? I typically force a large sized flat screw driver through and pound on it with a mull, but this can't be correct.

Also, I have an Ingersoll Rand 2131 impact gun with 600 ft lbs of torque and I can't seem to break the lower 21mm bolt free. I hit it with MAP gas and pb blaster but nothing helps. Does anyone have a good method to remove this bolt?

 

exactly what ur doing, keep at it with soaking it and get some propane on that, map gas has hotter peak temperature yes, but propane exchanges heat better (the rate of burn is higher with propane) and maybe grind nut off with slots cut through the nut 180 degrees apart from each other and than chisel the slots forcing the nut to free up but be careful not to damage the threads on bolt!!! maybe oxy-actelyne!

 

The 21mm is the diagonal one, right?

I just used a 1/2" drive ratchet, a pipe over the end of the ratchet, and my jack handle inside that...it's about a 4 or 5 foot breaker bar, which means I'm multiplying the force on the bolt 4 or 5x. Something's gonna give...lol.

As for the top part...use a bigger hammer. I got the other bolts off, rotated the hub up and pulled the halfshaft out, and then wiggled the largest crowbar I could find between the hub and the car. Pry upwards to separate and then twist...and then remove the crowbar and just wriggle it off the rest of the way.

Again, probably not the right way to do it, but it's how I did it.

 

Good ideas guys. Sounds like there's no right way to get the top collar clear. I suppose I'll use a pipe and more pb blaster on the bottom.

 

The top collar that you refer to is part of bearing's inner race. The inner race is split into two pieces. I use a large bearing separator to grasp the bottom of the bearing's inner race, and then a hydraulic press to remove the bearing from the hub.

The bolt that you're referring to is probably the bolt for the DTSS bushing. The DTSS bushing consists of inner and outer metal races, which are bonded together with a rubber core. Occasionally, the bolt becomes corroded and will seize to bushing's inner race. The bolt cannot be broken loose because the rubber will acts like a spring and absorb any impact that's imparted to the bolt. You need to heat the busing with a torch until the rubber is destroyed. After this is done, then you'll be able to unscrew the bolt. Obviously, you'll need to replace the DTSS bushings, and probably the bolts too, during reassembly. I would recommend putting some anti-seize compound on these bolts during reassembly. This way, they won't "freeze-up" on you, should you need to remove them again sometime in the future.

Hot_Dog
'90 RX7 GXL

 

Thanks Hot_Dog, but actually the top collar is part of the upper mount for the hub. A big 17mm nut and bolt attach upper mount of the hub assembly to the chassis ( or related suspension part more specifically). There is a little moveable collar inside where the bolt fits through. It may be better identified as a sleeve. It has to be moved a bit to get the hub assembly off the car.

 

anyone found a better way yet? I can't seem to get the top collar off the knuckle either.

 

anyone? I may just have to saw off the part of the collar on the inside preventing the knuckle from coming out if I can't find a way to force it out.

 

After a period of use the bushing will move to the rear and not allow the assembly to be removed. I've taken a screwdriver and used as a small pry bar. Slid it in behind the upper arm and forced the sleeve back into position, then the arm can be removed easily. Some have had to cut the sleeve and go from there.

 

I'm suffering through this rightnow... and adverse effects to cutting a little off the sleeve?

Does anyone know if I can find a replacement sleeve? I have been looking with no luck. Mazdatrix wanted to sell me replacement rear knuckles as a solution.

 

When I put in new Energy Suspension bushings, I had to remove the sleeve, and the new bushing went in without a sleeve.

If I tried putting the new bushing in before removing the old sleeve, it didn't fit.

Never had a problem with it after installation.

 

i just messed with this same stuff last weekend. I used a drift and hammer going through the hub to the little collar. a couple good whacks and it had backed off enough to slide the hub off the trailing arm.

 

Thanks guys... I got them out with some heat, PB blaster, HUGENORMOUS prybar and BFH.
Did some cleaning... new wheel bearings and seals on the way. I think I'm going to trim the sleeve a little to get them back in.

 

seriously just hit it with a drift and hammer, it should move outwards a bit with only a few solid whacks. also you should get a dtss elimination kit to put in there as well.

 

Yeah I am installing DTSS solid subframe mounts, mazda comp front diff mount, center camber arm, pinion snubber, wheels bearings and I have a spare subframe that I blasted and coated.

 

you might want to do some research before you tackle all that. iirc solid subframe mounts will make that camber bar unusable. the camber bar moves the subframe around because the mounts are rubber and have some compliance in them. if you go delrin or some other solid material then you cannot get that flex in the mounts. you'll have to get the individual camber adjusters like mazdatrix or mmr sells.

last weekend i basically did everything you mentioned except solid mounts, but i did a full poly kit and bearing+ball joint up front.

 

They are delrin -I should have specified.

 

and you can still pull some camber out with the arm...

 

you see where the Sleeve is?.in relation to the Part of that assembly where the bolt goes through??
Here is what you can do to drive the Sleeve back enough so that it wil not Bind on the other part when you install again.
Get a Bolt and nut..Place the nut onto the sleeve,and now put a Bolt through the Outside hole of the assembly,and then thread it on to the Nut.
You can now BANG the bolt with a hammer and the NUT will hit the Sleeve and force it Flush to the assembly,,Voila!.No grinding of the sleeve.

 

i dont mean to thread jack, but im about to do this same thing.. i have ridiculous wheel wobble which im guessing is attributed to needing new wheel bearings, i was just going to replace the entire hub, but it looks like he's actually replacing just the bearing? advice?

 

thanks I'll give this a try.

 

well the bearings are a lot cheaper than replacing the whole hub.

 

getting there -I'll have to add toe and outer camber links later -funds are tight.

 

New hubs are like 700 each new -you'll spend about 100 each used and there is no knowing if the bearings/bushings are good.

Fix the ones you have!

 

you paint that with por-15 ?

looking good !