I've had a howler...

[GingerMagic]

Well, today is the day I decided to replace my backplates with the reconditioned ones.
Got my trolley jack, all the tools I need and the day to myself - what can go wrong....

Bloody buggering wheel bearings, thats what.

They have separated, so I cannot remove the back part without a claw-type hub puller to get behind it. I got the new backplate on, fitted the brakes and got it all sorted but the bearing is not coming off with brute force so I have had to take it all back off again and wait for a puller.

Also, the bloody sodding handbrake cable. They were completely jammed into the backplate. I managed to hammer one out with a 7mm socket through the backplate and pushing the handbrake cable out the back, after hammering my hand a few times. On the second side, my hammer glanced off the socket and smashed the ABS sensor to pieces..

I have now simply put my tools away before I throw something ' hammer shaped ' across the horizon.

Oh well, tomorrow is a new day, lets hope I have better luck. I can borrow a puller from friendly garage close by but still need to free the handbrake cable from the backplate - an overnight soak in WD40 should help.

MOT on Friday - car should pass with a decent handbrake but will fail it now with a fooked ABS sensor..

Tonight I will be drowning my sorrows with cider and chocolate...

[markw]

I have days like that too. It's best to just stop, have a breather and come back to it with less murderous thoughts on your mind.....
Curious....how did you get (part) of the bearing off without a puller anyway?

[grasmere59]

Buggeration! That's sounds like the way most jobs go for me.Have you priced up the wheel bearings yet as the last time I looked at the local factors they were an arm n a leg and the odd vital organ unless you go the ebay route but that'll take time for delivery.

[GingerMagic]

The puller was an eBay special - one which you bolt onto the front of the hub with wheel bolts and it pulls that way. Will spend a bit more next time and go for the claw type instead.

Bearings were £45 + VAT at a local Motor factors - pretty much all the same price, but got mine from eBay £35 with free postage and only took 2 days to get here. Seems to be good quality too but will only find out when / if I get them fitted..

I have since chilled out a bit ( as much as possible when trying to get 2 boys to go to bed ) so tomorrow will be the day I decide to do my backplates.....

[jasper5]

If you have an angle grinder or dremmel you could grind down the inner bearing race until it is very thin then crack it with a chisel.

Remember to build up the brake assembly and fit the sensor before fitting the new wheel bearings, it's much easier.

Think how much aggro people like me get in a month Working as a full time mechanic can be very stressful at times, i've had 43 years of it, plus 2 heart attacks

Anyway, good luck with it and take your time.

[Doggy]

If it's any comfort Kelv, my bro & I were taking down my knackered cast iron guttering today.
It was all going improbably well until one bit slipped, breaking two tiles on the kitchen roof, just as the first spots of rain fell......

Tomorrow's another day and as it's July 2nd, things will go twice as well.

They will.

[steve_earwig]

Oooh, that reminds me of the time I was taking down the rusty gutter pipes here, they're just galvanised sheet, fortunately... There I was releasing it from the ground when it went light - "what's going on up there?" he thought, looking up... and receiving one end of a four foot long rusty pipe in the face. Clang! it went. I have a curved scar under my right eyebrow.

I think we all get those times when everything we touch goes to sh?t, the trick is to realise it's happening, down tools and go hide somewhere safe

[GingerMagic]

Ouch. I do have a small ' Harry Potter ' type scar on my forehead which I got about 3 weeks ago. When I was doing up the curtains on my lorry I had to step a bit closer to lean over some building materials but leant too far and smacked my head on the very sharp corner edge of the lorry. Did smart a bit but thought " sh1t happens " so carried on. I did get some strange looks from customers so I checked in the mirror and there was blood running down my face. I had to use a dashboard wipe to wash it away.

Tonight, fortunately a friend came round with a claw puller so the bearings are now off. I will definitely do the handbrake shoes before putting the new bearing on as it is sooooo much easier, and I have now done it a few times.

I did say to my mate that I mullered the ABS sensor to which he replied ' lucky you have a spare car to get one off '. I must admit I didn't think of that as the spare car is parked nearly 18" away from mine, and has been for 4 months.

Both l/h/r sensors on the cars are soaked in WD40, so lets hope tomorrow is plain sailing. Handbrake cable first though so the rusty backplate can come off.

Jasper, I do feel for mechanics as my turd was very badly looked after by the previous owner and lots of things have been harder than they should to fix or replace. but it is a relatively new car ( 2004 ). I cannot begin how hard it must be to sort out stuff from really old, rusty and poorly maintained motors day in, day out...

[DaiRees]

When I had my backplates replaced there was no way that the handbrake cables were coming out of them, so I ended up having the cables replaced too...

[TheSongRemainsTheSame]

Feel for you! I know that feeling pretty well.

It could however be worse; you could be doing the clutch/flywheel on a diesel mondeo. I swear the Ford engineers have designed that car as a practical joke..

[mjb]

Think how much aggro people like me get in a month Working as a full time mechanic can be very stressful at times

I'm getting stressed just THINKING about 406 rear brakes... those f**king springs.... DEATH!!!

[GingerMagic]

I managed to take handbrake cable off and replace with spare one - after trying for nearly an hour to extract the cable from the backplate...

I found the springs were a piece of cake, just do the one nearest the handbrake clip first, clip on the shoes then do the adjuster and finally the spring nearest adjuster - 5mins.

Sadly, the new bearings don't want to go on. I'm not sure how hard to hit them to get them on.!!

[omega]

stick them in the freezer overnight

[GingerMagic]

Really? How does the freezer thing work - does it expand the metal?

I was told to file the centre hole a bit and grease the sleeve and it should fit easier.

[scotty73]

Really? How does the freezer thing work - does it expand the metal?

I was told to file the centre hole a bit and grease the sleeve and it should fit easier.

Ohh err.