Removing axle beam bearings

[crvc]

I bought urethane bushings to replace the roller bearings in the axle beams. What's the best/simplest way to remove the roller bearings? Can I just chisel them loose and push then deeper into the tubes?

[Marc]

http://www.shoptalkforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=67028

[crvc]

Thanks for the reply. I'm not sure which method to use. The horseshoe trick sounds easy. "Too easy", I think. I checked this website:

http://www.vwdcqinc.org.au/insideabug.html

The photos make it look like there is a shelf on the inside, meaning I wouldn't be able to push the needle bearing deeper in.

[Marc]

...The photos make it look like there is a shelf on the inside, meaning I wouldn't be able to push the needle bearing deeper in.

As it says in the last sentence of the last post in the thread I linked for you.

[crvc]

I missed that. I'll find a horseshoe. Thanks a lot. I appreciate the help.

[Leatherneck]

I pushed mine in. measure the to the shelf or lip, measure the needle bearing and the bushing you are going to install see if the length is less to push the bearing further in.

[crvc]

With that shelf in the way, how did you push the bearing deeper? Did the bearings fold or crumple when you forced them deeper into the tubes?

[Leatherneck]

I do not remember having a problem with pushing it in and installing the urethane bushings. Now I wish I had paid better attention to it so I could help you out better.

[crvc]

The horseshoe trick worked great for three of the bearings. For the fourth there wasn't enough space to use the horseshoe and hammer. The tortion bars were still in the tube. With one hand I bent the small bar til it touched the bearing then tapped the bar with a hammer at the other end. It came out easily. If anyone wants to try the horseshoe trick, look for size 0 with heel clips. The clips abut the inner edge of the bearing.

Another trick, assuming you can't find a horseshoe, might be using the tortion bars to tap the bearings out.

The bushing kit had two pieces that were about 4 inches long. They fit into the upper axle tube but hit something about 3.75 inches deep in the tube. By pulling them back out and cutting off the last 1/4 inch they fit back in nicely, replacing both the bearing and grease seal.

For the lower axle tube there are four pieces. Two pieces are beveled and are supposed to be pushed deep enough that they don't cover the grease nipple hole. But they hit the same obstruction the upper tube has. And once they were in, I couldn't get them back out. So I'll have to remove the grease nipple to drill a hole through the bushing. The other two pieces fit snugly to the tube ends, replacing the cheap-ass grease seals. All four needle bearings are still in good shape. Are they worth selling?

[Leatherneck]

Good idea to remove the last 1/4 inch. I had to drill all my grease nipples but then again I moved all mine to the back of the beam instead of the front, figured they would be protected better in the back.

As far as the needle bearing worth that is up to a buyer, put them up for sale in some of the forums adds and see what you get. Are you using new torsions or old ones?

[subybaja]

One thing to remember (that I spaced the first time I put some of those in) is that the arms have to move! If they're hammer-in tight, pull out the urethane and file it a bit, or turn it down in a lathe.