Questions in the title...does the wheel bearing always become "damaged" after removing the hub/knuckle from the axle? My bearings are fine, just the knuckle needs replacement but I thought I read somewhere that you ALWAYS need a brand new bearing pressed in every time you remove the hub from the axle. Something about the removal process damaging it? Can anyone confirm? Thanks.

 

If your just removing the knuckle, the shaft will slide out of the hub and a bearing will not be needed. If you are separating the hub from the knuckle you WILL need a new bearing.

 

Ah great, so glad I asked. I am just installing a spindle (hub and knuckle together pulled from another car) so it should work out. Thanks

 

usually it's fine but if you have tons of miles on it, you might as well do it while it's off.

you'll be feeling stupid if the bearing goes couple k down the road, plus the bearing is cheap if you look at the big picture

 

The point is that you press the bearing out of the knuckle via the inner race.
So the force is transmitted via the rollers to press the bearing out.
In mechanical engineering that is reason #1 to replace the bearing you just removed, even if it is in a good state.
(because its NOT once you removed it)
To install the bearing you're pressing on the outer race = as you should when you're installing it in a chamber (don't know if that is the proper term).
To install a bearing on an axle or hub you DO press on the inner race.

Feel free to install a removed bearing again.
You might get away with it.
You might not.
Do you feel lucky?

 

Thanks guys, learning some good stuff in here. First off, I will have to ask the seller how many miles are on the car it was pulled from--thanks for mentioning that, good point.

Spitfire- Not sure if I am following correctly. I am buying a hub&bearing&knuckle together that has been pulled from another car, so the bearing won't need any type of install or removal. Hope I am not missing anything.

 

B.Money Posted Today, 04:35 PM
Absolutely correct.
As SgtB was.