Front wheel bearings..How hard to do?

[croc]

Do it yourself and save money, just be careful, don't rush it and make sure you put the new bearing races in square and central, check your haynes or othr manual for the right level of play, as has been said don't think that they need to be tightened up like a nut and bolt, there should be a small amount but noticeable play when you rock the wheel at 12 and 6pm. If over tight the bearings will wear super-quick. Mine started sounbding teerible with 5 men and a load of gear in the van going to Glastonbury, changed then in a field before coming home, took an hour and 20 mins taking it slowly and carefully and keeping everything clean.

cheers, T

Please note this comment about the small amount of play - very important.
My van, soon after purchase, had lot of noise which sounded like tire/road noise. When I checked wheel bearings they had been done up tight, with no play, and the bearing cups and rollers had turned brown with heat and started to get pits - nearing the end of life!! And these were quality brand bearings.

[karl40]

Well i bit the bullit and decided to have a go and do it myself.
I went to volkspares in Leytonstone and they kindly supplied some german inner and outer bearing sets with new oil seals and the correct grease and new break pads to boot, total £80. I checked the Haynes manual and it mentions anti-rattle shims when fittting the new pads but i never removed any when i was striping the calipers down to remove them. I asked the man at volkspares but he said no one has ever asked for them before, he checked the store computer and there was a listing for them as a stock item but as now one uses them they dont bother keping them in stock. Whats the score... will the new pads be o.k on there own? The last lot were fine and never gave me a moments problem.The brake disc's are rigid Teves style calipers(twin piston) .
The new bearings have now been fitted and at times there was some colourfull language used and i took on board the advice regarding backing off the hub nut. There is just enough play to see the thrust washer move slightly. The old bearing on the passenger side was hard to turn by hand and seemed to stick every 2 or3 turns so that may have been the burring noise i could here. The breaks are going back on tomorrow and then the test drive, i will let you know how i get on.
Thanks for the support everyone.

[California Dreamin]

You can fit without the anti-rattle shims but may suffer from some brake squeel in the future although braking won't be effected by emmitting them.
Clean the surfaces where the pads sit, make sure the pads can move easily, apply brake paste on the metal edges of the pads and where the pistons make contact with the back of the pads.
grease pins etc.
De-wax the disc surfaces with thinners or petrol.
Martin

[karl40]

Well, followed the advice and she runs like a rolls royce. Well pleased and i have to admit it a little smug now, test drive done and no problems with the breaks. I followed the good advice on refitting the new pads, thanks Martin and they were fine. I even gave the old girl a paint up underneath on the strengh of it.
Thanks everyone.