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MGB Front Wheel Bearings

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GaryBeu

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Well, I have both my front and rear suspensions done on the MGB...Wheeeew. Now I'm trying to replace the front wheel bearings. I ordered kits from VB. I've never done this before.

My trusty Bentley manual gives me the typical "Withdraw the bearing retaining washer, outer bearing, shims, spacer, inner bearing, oil seal collar, and oil seal. The outer bearing races should be left in the hub unless they are to be renewed." The VB kit contains everything. The bearing retaining washer and outer bearing come out easily. The oil seal collar stayed on the swivel axel. How the **** do I get the oil seal out? AND I assume that I'll leave the outer bearing race in place since I don't have proper equipment to press it out and new one back in. Any problem you see with that? Guess I mostly need instruction on the oil seal. Thanks ya'll...

Gary
 
Gary, The front hubs on the MGBs have a spacer in between the hub and inter bearing, something American cars never had. Because of this, the nut on the spindle is supposed to be torqued up to the proper setting. Because of this there are shims that go between the spacer and hub. If when torqued up and the hub has resistance when turning, pull the hub and add another shim or pull a thin shim and add a thicker one, they come in various thicknesses. The hub should turn freely but not be loose. They can be a PITA to do, but once done properly, you'll not over stress the bearings. Some guys eliminate the spacers and set everything as an American car is, put the nut on snug and have no problems, but I would do it as the factory did. I forget the torque setting, but that's easy to find. JMHO. PJ
 
That collar is a snug fit. If it has not been grooved, leave it in place. If the thing has a wear groove, a suitable puller will get it off the stub-axle. The stub axle has a radius "shoulder" so pay attention to which side of the replacement collar goes next to it, too.
 
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