Front Axle Bearing failure 763

[toohp]

This week I heard a knocking sound coming from the front of my machine , checked the front left rim it's got some play , I take it the axle bearings failed ? Ive phoned a Mechanic that can do it as I don't have the press to get the axle etc out ( looking at the workshop manual ) Now the Mech says if the bearing has caught & damaged the axle housing it could cost Big $ & if 1 has gone the other's might be on there way out too . Ive had a leaking hub seal for a while and I bet the oil is low & has caused this . Anybody here had problems re damaging the housing or it a rare thing ? I'm hoping I can just throw another bearing inn and will be ok ? Should I do all 4 while the Mech is at it ? Cheers Toohp

 

[Tazza]

Low oil could make it fail.
For the bearing to take the housing or axle out, you need to have a LOT of wear. I would doubt it would be there yet.
You don't really need a press to do the work, i don't have a press and have replaced a few bearings. Loosen the bolt that holds the hub on the axle a few turns. Get two bottle jacks, pump side down and install them behind the hub. Pump them up and smack the bolt with a hammer, they should pop free. Remove the bolt inside the chain case, use one bottle jack on the hub to pull the axle out of the tube. Remove the cups inside the axle tube and the ones on the axle, slide it back in without the seal, put the axle and chain on, do up the bolt, install the seal and hub, torque the bolt insidea and out on the axle. You should be set.
To check the other bearings, jack it up, grab the tyres and pull and push them see if there is any float. Ideally measure this, but if you can feel or hear a knock, you need to replace or shim the bearings to take this end float out.