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Tips
Tips

rear hubs...Something I can rebuild myself?

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J

jackag91

Jedi Warrior
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My hubs on my TR6 feel like the bearing need to be repacked and I am not sure what else. All I know is one of them feels like it is sticking when I try and turn it.

Keep in mind the hubs are currently sitting on my workbench, so the sticky feeling isn't that great but it is something you can feel when you turn the hub by hand.

Anyways, is rebuilding the hubs something you want to do yourself or is it one of those things best left to a machanic?
 
Rebuilding the hub isn't that difficult. Tearing the hub down for rebuild is. Especially if you don't have a hub puller or a 20-ton press and sometimes 20 tons isn't enough. If you take it to a machine shop to have the hubs halves seperated, warn them to be VERY careful because it is VERY easy to bend the mounting flanges if its not supported properly. If that happens you have a new paperweight for your desk.
 
When you say they are easy to bend, how easy do you mean and how can you tell if you bent them?

Let's say for a minute that I tried using a 3 arm gear puller on it. I mean just hypothetically, let's say I did that.
 
Keep in mind that they will become very expensive paperweights if they get ruined and need replacing.
 
A good straight edge will show a bend.

I haven't seen a 3 arm puller bend one. Then again, I haven't seen a three arm puller succesfully seperate them. To be fair, I haven't tried a three arm puller on a hub either so I don't know if it would work or even bend them. Most hubs that I have seen that have been bent, were bent by presses when the hub wasn't well supported. I'm lucky enough to have access to the proper Churchill hub tools.
 
A 3-arm gear puller can very easily bend the hub and render it junk. What happens is that the 3-jaws pull on the ouside of the hub and distort(warp)it. To check for bent, spin the hub and watch the outside edge as you spin it. It should be completely even.

You need a bearing separator to support the center of the hub evenly. Put the axle in a large press, supported underneath with the bearing separator, and apply force to a nut threaded on the axle (to prevent the threads from becoming distorted). After some time the pressure will release the axle from the hub, with a resultant LOUD bang.

The proper Churchill tool (unavailable new) works by applying even tension on the center axle while pulling on the wheel lugs (also evenly) as the center is drawn in by turning the center bolt, the hub is drawn off the axle. Several plans for making your own tool are on the net.

And yes, I bent one with a 3-jaw puller and an impact wrench. Also ruined the axle threads at the same time.
 
I had good service on a rebuild by High Point Imports in NC. Price was reasonable and turned them around in a week.

email contact hpimports@webtv.net
 
I've been one to tackle just about any challenge on the six but the rear hub rebuild was not for me. I too went to High Point Imports and received quality service at a reasonable price.
 
Jack, there is a shop in DFW that has the tool and expertise to pull these hubs apart.
https://www.britauto.com/

In fact, this coming Saturday March 10) the Red River Triumph Club is going to meet there for an open house of sorts. Come mid-morning and bring your hubs along. They will tell you if rebuilding is needed. They seem to play straight at this shop.
 
Right tool, wrong car. The bolt circle for the spits is smaller than the TRs. You need this tool for a 4x4.5" bolt circle.
 
If you decide to make some up, let me know how much to buy into the deal.
 
I will try to put together the plans for one and see what kind of pricing I can get on it.

I am still very very inexperience working with metal, so I wouldn't feel comfortable building stuff for anyone's use but mine.

I am more than happy to draw up the plans and see what it could cost to get a batch made by a CNC shop.

THe only problem might come in with getting enough orders to cover the set up charge
 
I got a quote on making some of these pullers and it came back at $250 each.

I am sure there are ways to reduce the cost (material, machine techniques, 1 piece vs. 2 piece construction, etc) but I think I may just go with getting them rebuilt professionally
 
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Good idea!
 
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