Can’t Install Front Wheel Bearing on 2006 Impreza

[AJ Fresh]

2006 Impreza 2.5i Wagon

Hi everyone, I’m having some problems installing my new wheel bearing. I have pics and some short videos here http://s918.photobucket.com/user/stimpypi/library/Front%20Wheel%20Bearing
demonstrating how the outside of the wheel bearing hits a lip the same exact size of the outer portion (is that the outer race?) of the wheel bearing.

I have a bearing press adapter kit. It was really easy to get the old bearing out with it but I can’t get the new bearing in. Already tried the press. It wasn’t budging. Last night I put the new bearing into the freezer but haven’t yet tried installing it. Same for the wheel spindle which I can see how it can fit into the bearing with some pressing but if you see the videos, I don’t see anyway the new bearing will press into the housing.

Thoughts or suggestions please?

Topic

[none]

The old race is still in there. You’re going to have to find a way to press it out.

[AJ Fresh]

I’ll check it out thank you for replying

[Cameron]

Making life difficult for yourself trying to replace that bearing. Buy the entire wheel bearing hub assembly and fit it.

[zero]

[quote=”no_common_sense” post=161535]The old race is still in there. You’re going to have to find a way to press it out.[/quote]

This.

Just take the knuckle, hub, new bearing and any other related part down to your local repair shop and see if they’ll press it for you. It really doesn’t take that long. They should be able to do it for about half an hour of labour.

[AJ Fresh]

Update for the day. I checked my wheel hub. I don’t see anything i can pull or press out of it. I tried putting my bearing press adapter to the ring that’s stopping my bearing from going in. It won’t budge. Actually I think that ring is the outer border that holds the c-clip.

I removed the axle on the other side to see how it all fits in. Seems I have a larger bearing than what is on the driver’s side. I’m going to take a look at a new hub and bearing at the dealer. If they seem the same size as the bearing I bought, I’ll take the steering knuckle to a shop and have them remove what’s in there even though I don’t see anything to remove.

Problem with that is that I broke the pinch bolt that holds the ball-joint in place. Broke a drill bit trying to drill a hole down the middle of the broken bolt.
I already undid the castle nut that fastens the ball joint to the control arm. Won’t budge even with a separator fork.

[AJ Fresh]

My bearing system is a separate piece from the wheel spindle. They’re not sold pre-fit together

[Richard Kirshy]

[AJ Fresh]

I went to the dealership to see how a new bearing fit in it. It was obvious like everyone here said that I still had something left of the old bearing left in the steering knuckle. Obviously it was the old outer race. I put my Harbor Freight bearing adapter up to it using the 955-011 spacer and pressed it out. Unfortunately I lost the plastic lock that keeps the new bearing together. Exchanging that bearing for a new one tomorrow to finish the job.

Thanks to everyone for their help!

[Author]

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