How to: Remove Rear Wheel Bearings

[Sour1]

My question is:  How do I remove the front/rear wheel bearings?  Do I use heat? Cold? A Press?

I have the bike in pieces and ready for powder coating.  This bike will be my long distance cruiser so I want to make sure everything is in tip top shape.    The bearings seem to be in there rather tight.  I already have new bearings and seals ready to go in, but I wanted the old ones out before going to powder coating.   

Thanks for the help.

-Sour1

[FJ111200]

To get the first bearing out on either side find a decent drift, i use the wrench in my toolbox without the ratchet, the one that is just like a length of round metal bar with the sliding half inch drive on, and locate it onto the spacer inside the centre of the wheel, then give it a wack with a big hammer so that it pushes out one bearing.
Then i turn the wheel over minus the spacer and use a socket the same size or just smaller than the other bearing, and attatch it to the extension bar of the half inch drive wrenches and then wack out the other bearing.
Then repeat for the other wheel.
To get the new bearings in i use the old bearings as a drift.
Ohers will be along with their method soon enough.

[hein]

      I use a brass drift to move the center spacer away from the inner bearing race. Once you can see the inner race of either bearing use the drift to move the bearing out. As soon as the tension is gone you can work your way around the inner race and pop the first bearing out. remove the spacer and use a press plug or a suitable socket, smaller in dia. then the od of the bearing, and pop the other bearing out

      Make sure that the powdercoater masks of the bearing bore and all threads before coating. Removing powdercoating is a bitch, I've been down that road.

       To install the bearings use a press plug or socket that is just slightly smaller then the od of the bearing and only touches the outer race of the bearing. Using any force on the inner race can easily destoy the new bearing. Using a press is the prefered way but a hammer can work if your careful. Once you have one bearing in use the axle or a same size shaft to align the centre spacer as you press the other bearing in. Make sure that the bearing bore is clean and either use some antiseize compound or some form of lubricant to install.

        The same rules apply to pushing in seals although you won't need lubricant or a centreing shaft, just push it in "square". Its easy, just take your time,  Hein.

[Mark Olson]

use a punch that will reach from one side thru the middle to the inside of the other brg and pound it out.  the inner spacer will be in the way at first and you will need to just give it a nudge over to the side so you can hit the surface of the brg. The first one is the hardest to get out then the second one you can use the socket method with extension.

After the brgs are out cover the seat area with tape so it does not get powder coated . If it does you will have a hell of a time installing new brgs.

ahhhhhh  shit .  what Hein just said.

[SlowOldGuy]

Place the bearing in the freezer for a day to shrink it up some.  Makes the installation go much easier.
Also, gently pry off the rubber seal and add some more greas to it before installation.

DavidR.

[FJmonkey]

Most powder-coaters will have a selection of silicone plugs and caps to prevent threads from getting coated. If you don't use them then worst case is you have chase them out with a tap/die. The bearing seats will be harder to deal with if not masked off. The coater should have special tape for masking off parts that will survive the 380 F oven. If you are worried about them not having some I can send you some.

[Sour1]

Thanks everyone. The front wheel was easy but the rear took some time.

Thanks, FJmonkey for the offer. The powder coater I will be using has been in the business for some time. I have a meeting with him next week to go over everything.  I've seen this guys' work and it's good.

-Sour1