Alfa Romeo Owners Club of Australia Forum

Technical => 116 Series (Alfetta Sedan/GT/GTV & Giulietta Sedan) => Topic started by: MD on September 30, 2015, 06:01:49 PM

Title: DeDion Wheel Bearing Removal
Post by: MD on September 30, 2015, 06:01:49 PM
Not a common job but ultimately the rear wheel bearings in the DeDion require replacement as is the case in one of our cars. Apart from the use of a massive slide hammer, does anybody have a better technique and/or developed a puller tool to remove and reinstall these double race bearings?
An allied job is the removal of the bearing lock ring which also uses a special tool. Any tips of a do-it-yourself tool combo is appreciated.
Title: Re: DeDion Wheel Bearing Removal
Post by: rowan_bris on September 30, 2015, 07:11:28 PM
a bid slide hammer and lots of break-out space!
Title: Re: DeDion Wheel Bearing Removal
Post by: MD on October 01, 2015, 08:16:08 AM
Hahaaa.  ;D

Been there done that.

Actually what I am looking for is a bearing puller that I can couple up to a rattle gun and save some pain.
Title: Re: DeDion Wheel Bearing Removal
Post by: MD on October 01, 2015, 10:05:04 AM
Just found an excellent write up on the tools and procedures here:

http://www.dep-o.co.uk/features/replacing-alfetta-rear-wheel-bearing/ (http://www.dep-o.co.uk/features/replacing-alfetta-rear-wheel-bearing/)
Title: Re: DeDion Wheel Bearing Removal
Post by: MD on October 01, 2015, 10:59:29 AM
From "Craig's Place"
Drawings on home made lock ring retainer removal tools :
http://www.users.on.net/~craigf/a50187.pdf (http://www.users.on.net/~craigf/a50187.pdf)
Title: Re: DeDion Wheel Bearing Removal
Post by: Al Campbell on October 05, 2015, 12:57:36 PM
Thanks for those links MD. Every thread I've read on this job has scared me off.
Title: Re: DeDion Wheel Bearing Removal
Post by: MD on October 05, 2015, 05:33:13 PM
AWWH 'common Al. Don't let me suffer on my own. Where's that true grit Al Campbell we all know and love?  :)

I am going to make a start of some kind next week. Either beg borrow or make the tools but I never give up until it's time to put a match to it. ;D
Title: Re: DeDion Wheel Bearing Removal
Post by: Paul Gulliver on October 05, 2015, 09:41:03 PM
Go get 'em MD . Just remember to take your Go Pro & note book for us faint hearted back in the cheap seats who are still paying attention . Are you going to camber the de dion while its out???
Title: Re: DeDion Wheel Bearing Removal
Post by: MD on October 06, 2015, 08:18:43 AM
Hey Gully,
Reset camber ??!!  ;D
Nah. The missuss can't even drop a wheelie in the shopping centre car park let alone give it howl on the track. You see, this job is for transaxle tragics  like me who will even repair a 75 automatic just to keep 'em on the road. It's her shopping basket.
Consistent with my style of posting, if ask a question, I figure others might need the same answer. So if in my research I find an answer, I am not too humble to answer my own question to keep this info circulating.
To answer your question, I will be more than happy to document parts of what may be different in my approach as the procedure is already well documented in the links that I have provided.
My race car does have the modified rear camber but to be accurate, this job needs to be done on the wheel aligner. Using a bricklayer's spirit level is not the go... ;D ;D
Title: Re: DeDion Wheel Bearing Removal
Post by: Al Campbell on October 08, 2015, 08:02:40 AM
Quote from: MD on October 05, 2015, 05:33:13 PM
AWWH 'common Al. Don't let me suffer on my own. Where's that true grit Al Campbell we all know and love?  :)

I am going to make a start of some kind next week. Either beg borrow or make the tools but I never give up until it's time to put a match to it. ;D

Planning to replace the front wheel bearings on the weekend - on the Yamaha. I think a couple of taps with a brass rod should do it. But if they put up a fight I'm ready to step up.
Title: Re: DeDion Wheel Bearing Removal
Post by: MD on October 09, 2015, 12:31:03 PM
Some more installments on my way to the Chiropractor...

Two left and right hand thread  Alfetta type lock rings to keep the bearing in place. The bearing itself with the PFI (USA) part numbers typed and the FAG numbers hand written lower down. The bearing size is 75mm OD 42mm ID and 37mm wide.

Can someone lend me a sanity gauge please..
Title: Re: DeDion Wheel Bearing Removal
Post by: four90s on October 09, 2015, 03:07:31 PM
Hey MD, I'd lend you my sanity gauge but the scale doesn't cover replacing DeDion bearings. It ends just after giubo replacements.

Steve
Adelaide
Title: Re: DeDion Wheel Bearing Removal
Post by: MD on October 09, 2015, 04:34:20 PM
Hi Steve. I see you are half baked yourself Buddy. Never mind, Uncle Phil will buy us all a lolly at Alfesta.  ;D

...meanwhile back at the Dude Ranch.
Here's an off the shelf tool set destined for glory and become the DeDion bearing puller kit. Stay glued for the modification to make it work.

Gully, don't worry about taking notes mate, there will be handouts later. ;D

1 19x200mm high tensile bolt with nut & washer.
2 Cut down 3/4 inch drive X 13/4 inch el cheapo socket to form a push plate
3 A 2/12 inch X 3/4 inch drive socket also el cheapo with shortened drive connection and internals removed to allow a 78mm cavity room to receive bearing during removal.
4 The actual bearing.
It's kind of weird but while I was selecting the cheap sockets, it seemed that the imperial OD's were a much closer tolerance for my needs than the metric versions of the same thing.
Title: Re: DeDion Wheel Bearing Removal
Post by: Paul Gulliver on October 12, 2015, 05:27:45 AM
QuoteGully, don't worry about taking notes mate, there will be handouts later

Still awake down the back of the classroom.

Just made me remember a famous quote from my form 5 maths teacher  " Go to the top of the class , but don't take your books as you won't be there long"
Title: Re: DeDion Wheel Bearing Removal
Post by: MD on October 13, 2015, 12:51:29 PM
Here is one version of the home made bearing lock ring removal tool. It uses a 3/4"drive 13/4" socket (60mm OD) as a basis to weld on some cut down tool steel sprockets made from a 6mm cheap spanner.
Title: Re: DeDion Wheel Bearing Removal
Post by: LukeC on October 13, 2015, 01:23:44 PM
I'm still coming to grips with the guy on the link saying he allows 2 1/2 hours for the job.

I have done this job on the ground with cobbled up tools, on a hoist with more sophisticated fabbed tools and with the ridgy-didge Alfa kit in a dealership. 2 hours MAX once you know your way around the job! Only time I took significantly more time was when a 90 had a failed bearing for the second time in a short period: When I measure the housing up, it was out of round by .020" !?!?, and I had to swap the de dion.

It either as a lot of specialist shops will do: this is a job that most people will not take on and other workshops shy away from so we will charge what the market will bear.

Or:

Poms need a 3/4 hour tea break every 3/4 an hour (and charge it to the customer).

Title: Re: DeDion Wheel Bearing Removal
Post by: MD on October 13, 2015, 07:53:58 PM
Almost there folks. Gotta make the hub/CV connection flange separation tools...
Title: Re: DeDion Wheel Bearing Removal
Post by: MD on October 22, 2015, 01:27:03 PM
Small up date: Got all the tools made and actually done the job to RHS bearing. My intention is to show the working of the gear on the remaining one. Unfortunately, I have come down with a poxy seasonal virus and I will resume the topic as soon as I feel up to speed.
Title: Re: DeDion Wheel Bearing Removal
Post by: bowds116 on October 23, 2015, 09:26:17 AM
See now MD, if I looked at this forum more regularly, I could have just dropped my tooling in on the way to work!
Sorry ;D
Title: Re: DeDion Wheel Bearing Removal
Post by: MD on October 23, 2015, 10:03:01 AM
Hey bowds. I definitely need to talk to your Mum. She' putting way too much baloney in your play lunch. :D
Title: Re: DeDion Wheel Bearing Removal
Post by: bowds116 on October 23, 2015, 11:20:18 AM
No, seriously, I do have the gear, having done the job a few times now...  :)
Title: Re: DeDion Wheel Bearing Removal
Post by: MD on October 26, 2015, 09:30:33 AM
Hey bowds. That set looks like it will do the job and on a budget too. Thanks for your contribution.

Here's the balance of my tool set that I have compiled that essentially helps to remove/separate the hub assembly to enable you  to actually get to the bearing for removal.

Tool "C" is a cheap ($10) puller that may come in handy to remove the bearing inner from the hub shaft as this part may come out during the process of the hub removal and unless it is removed, the hub cannot be re-installed. Then again you may not even need it but for the price it's a handy gadget.

The Alfettas have the large lock ring that uses the toothed socket for fitting and removal. The 75 DeDion has the much thinner lock ring requiring a hexagonal socket. In my opinion, the Alfetta lock ring is much more substantial and is better retained into its final lock position and so I have no need to re-use the 75 lock ring. To save making yet another tool I simply chose to destroy it during removal making the job a piece of cake.

Any enthusiast who is a member of  AROCA (QLD) and wants to do this job is welcome to borrow these tools at no charge. Just send me a PM to make arrangements.
Title: Re: DeDion Wheel Bearing Removal
Post by: michaeljc on November 06, 2015, 08:51:43 PM
Whilst on this topic ....

I have specially made up tools for the rear wheel bearings. Plus a 50mtr long x 5" thick tommy bar for undoing the nuts (well it seems that big and I've not used it for anything else).
It is 2 or 3 years since I did the bearings (so memory is a little sketchy) but the tools made it pretty easy.

I am in Melbourne eastern suburbs and am happy to lend these tools to local AROCA members if they need them. Just PM me. ..... Michael