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MG MGB Technical - front wheel bearings

I am checking the bearings on a 1975 bgt which has been converted to wire wheels. I have the hub off and removed the outer bearing but cannot remove the spacer or inner bearing. Neither seem to want to come out either through the front or back. Which way do they come out and do the need drifted. Advice appreciater.
R E Merrall

Had another look and clear that the bearing seal is preventing bearing removal. How do I remove the seal?
R E Merrall

Use an old, large screwdriver and just lever the seal out. Cheers - Dave
DW DuBois

You might find this helpful http://www.mgb-stuff.org.uk/fbearing.htm#1

The outer one is a bit of a pain to get in as it is down the wire wheel hub. It should be possible to use the old outer race to get the new one in, but to seat it, it needs a bloody good belt. So if the old one gets stuck, you are! The interference fit is only the depth of the new race but if the old one gets a bit off centre as you hit it, you would be in trouble. For about £25 you can get a set of seal and bearing drifts (of course you only need 2 of the 7 sizes!) Alternatively an engineering shop should have the drifts and the press to do it. I borrowed the drifts and did it on the garage floor on a bit of ply with a 3-4lb hammer. Subsequently bought a set of drifts. They also seat the seal nicely tho this can be tapped in around it's perimeter with a bit of care.
Michael Beswick

The races are OK. When I took the hub off the outer bearing came out of course, but the inner bearing and spacer are still inside the hub. When refitting with a new grease seal do I have to insert the spacer and bearing into the hub before sliding it onto the axle?
R E Merrall

As I recall (it was a long time ago) the spacer comes out from the outer face of the hub with the outer roller assembly and shims. However looking at a drawing the spacer seems to be wider then the outer bearing outer race that is pressed into the hub.

Nevertheless that is what the WSM says, going on to say the outer races should only be removed if the bearings are being replaced. The the spacer does have to be removed before you can drift the outer races out of the hub.

To remove the inner bearing roller assembly (from the back of the hub) lever out the seal as Dave says.

See also this http://www.mgb-stuff.org.uk/fhos.htm
Paul Hunt

Thanks for your help, bearing disassembled. Have to get new seals and grease.
R E Merrall

Thanks for your help, bearing disassembled. Have to get new seals and grease.
R E Merrall

When regreasing the wheel bearings, make sure the bearings are spotless then work the grease well into the rollers and cage also smear the seal with grease. Do NOT fill the hub cavity with grease.
john wright

Disagree with John to a point. Sure don't pack, but certainly put some in the hub, but don't put any at all in the cap.
Allan Reeling

Hello Alan, can you tell me why you would put some grease in the hub cavity, if you use a good quality grease the grease should not melt during normal road usage. I worked for 25 years as a brake Technician for a large brake lining manufacturer in Yorkshire and during fade tests where the maximum disc temperature could reach 500 - 600 deg c + we never had a problem with the grease melting and causing problems. I usually just put a thin coat of grease in the hub cavity and dust cap.
john wright

"work the grease well into the rollers"

Do this from one side only and keep going until it bulges out the other side. Doing it from both sides to save time traps air and results in insufficient grease. Some say to do it by pressing the bearing against a greased palm, but that is pretty messy, a finger pad worked fine for me when I replaced the roadster bearings as part of going to wire wheels.

The WSM says to fill the cavity between oil seal and inner bearing, and to lightly smear the spacer. It goes on to say not to fill the cavity between the bearings or the cap.

Centrifugal force will result in grease slowly migrating from the outer (smaller) bearing to the inner (larger) bearing. Fortunately the outer bearing is relatively easy (in stud-wheel hubs at least!) to remove and repack from time to time. However It's not something I've ever done in either car, the V8 having done 100k with me, plus however much of the previous 100k with other owners had been done since a replacement or repack.
Paul Hunt

This thread was discussed between 23/01/2016 and 26/01/2016

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