Anybody have a front wheel bearing press tool??

[lotar_6]

Last year Dave bought a Hub Tamer front wheel drive service tool set and we did the front wheel bearings on his B5 and my Rado w/o having to take the knuckles off the cars!! Super easy job (once we remembered to take the C-clip out on the Rado) and saved a bunch of time and $$ not having to re-align the cars. He ended up selling the tool for I think a $20 loss, so we did 4 bearings on 2 cars for like $20!! Now... I need it again! :mad: :(

I found it for about $320 w/ free shipping here (http://www.tooltopia.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=9979).

I really need to replace one of my front hubs and I'm sure removing the old one will pull the inner race on the bearing (which is practically brand new :mad: ). I'd like to find a tool that will work like this one to save me time and money... Anybody got one? Know where to get one cheaper? I really don't wanna fork over that kinda money for a tool, but maybe I could rent it to some of you that might also need it.

Pleez post up thoughts or ideas!!

[crew219]

actually I sold it for a $20 gain :)

I bought it for $217 shipped, sold it for $240 + ship.

Anyways, the units have gone up in price and the place where I purchased it from no longer sells it.

I've heard that GAP has one that they rent out. Not 100% sure though. Have you checked garth's shop? Maybe they can do it for you. I think I was chatting with Jay @ JL once and he said he had one as well . . . not sure if it was him or another shop . . .

Dave

[customfabvw]

hey guys, i have a bearing press that works great for that! hit me up.

[lotar_6]

I found a used one on ebay so we'll see how that goes. I'll call Jay on Monday and see what they can do for me. GAP may be an option, but the last time I rented a tool from them, they charged me an extra weeks rent b/c it was 1 day late! I wasn't happy about that.

customfabvw: I may take you up on that, but you are in Syr. & I'm in Ithaca. I'm gonna see what all my options are b4 deciding. What would you charge me, and would you ship? Maybe I could run up there and borrow some floor space for an hour? LMK

[customfabvw]

call me at 315-436-2488 matt

[CLUTCH]

Hey i might need that tool too. maybe we can do a group buy?

[crew219]

GAP may be an option, but the last time I rented a tool from them, they charged me an extra weeks rent b/c it was 1 day late! I wasn't happy about that.

So don't be late :P

Are you talking about this one on ebay?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/OTC-Hub-Tamer-wheel-bearing-set-as-NEW_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ43996QQitemZ4649351 896QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW

Only half of the case . . . . not a fan . . . not even sure how you could lose the upper part of the case.

Might be worth just purchasing a new one if you also plan on doing the passat's front and rear wheel bearings sometime soon . . . . then you can do what I did and sell it on ebay and get most of your money back or rent it out.

Dave

[lotar_6]

Well, you know how it goes... I just love tools! Now that I've needed this more than once, I'm trying to justify it. If I spend over twenty bucks on tool rentals, I start to think I should buy it. The problem is all the other stuff I need to spend money on.

I'm not sure about a group buy. Seems like a bit of a hassle, but maybe worth a try. :confused: IDK... somebody chime in that has done it b4.

[crew219]

Well, you know how it goes... I just love tools! Now that I've needed this more than once, I'm trying to justify it. If I spend over twenty bucks on tool rentals, I start to think I should buy it. The problem is all the other stuff I need to spend money on.

I'm not sure about a group buy. Seems like a bit of a hassle, but maybe worth a try. :confused: IDK... somebody chime in that has done it b4.

One thought . . . . you can email this guy "Nick Gustas" and see if he's interested in renting it out to you. Then again, with shipping costs on this, you'd be probably looking at $60 in ship charges alone.

http://forums.audiworld.com/s4/msgs/2313954.phtml

Really nice guy on the forums. Has helped me out a few times.

Be sure to call JL tomorrow morning. (607) 564-9072 They probably won't rent it to you, but they also won't overcharge you to have it done at their shop.

Group buy on this item is pretty much impossible IMO . . . you'd have to have at least 10 units and it'd be a PITA and time consuming to set it up.

Dave

[lotar_6]

Group buy on this item is pretty much impossible IMO . . . you'd have to have at least 10 units and it'd be a PITA and time consuming to set it up.

Dave

That's what I thought. Same about the shipping charges. this is why I'm thinking about just buying one. Maybe I'll sell it after I use it... again.

[crew219]

Maybe a combo of these two would work as well . . .

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=44577

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=45210

The bearing tool is even on sale this month too . . .

Dave

[lotar_6]

Isn't the bearing tool too small? I thought Autozone had a kit like that which wouldn't work on my car? Maybe I'm just crazy? If it would work, then it'd be worth the drive to Syr.! ... or Autozone.

[crew219]

Isn't the bearing tool too small? I thought Autozone had a kit like that which wouldn't work on my car? Maybe I'm just crazy? If it would work, then it'd be worth the drive to Syr.! ... or Autozone.

Doubt it . . . the problem is with being able to pull off the hub . . . since you're not reusing it, i doubt you need the race puller and you should be fine with the HF bearing kit once you remove the old hub. Maybe that $20 tool will do the trick.

Dave

[lotar_6]

Looks like we'll find out if the Harbor Freight route will take me where I need to be. I talked Marie into going on a Syracuse shopping spree tomorrow just so I can have her pick these up for me. Not that it was hard to talk her into shopping or anything!

I'll prolly get her up in the air tomorrow night. If it doesn't work, I'll just yank the knuckle and get it pressed. Would be great to not have to worry about an alignment, tho.

[crew219]

Looks like we'll find out if the Harbor Freight route will take me where I need to be. I talked Marie into going on a Syracuse shopping spree tomorrow just so I can have her pick these up for me. Not that it was hard to talk her into shopping or anything!

I'll prolly get her up in the air tomorrow night. If it doesn't work, I'll just yank the knuckle and get it pressed. Would be great to not have to worry about an alignment, tho.

Did you give JL a call? What did they say?

Dave

[BUNNYLOVE]

Just fyi, they don't have the bearing tool at the store in N. Syracuse. I check everytime I go and they never have it. I've actually wanted several things they have online but not in store.

[lotar_6]

No I didn't call JL... I know they won't loan it to me and will only try to get me to get it done by them... which defeats the whole purpose of me trying to do it myself.

Thanks for the heads-up, Ryan! I'll call them this morning to check. It looks like I may just take it to JL and get her done. This sux!!

[lotar_6]

OK... all done! I yanked the hub and removed the knuckle (hardest part was the tie rod end... thanks JL!). I called Vic yesterday and he said he'd press it for me @ Shadetree. I got it apart after dinner and in less than an hour, counting drive time, I had new parts on the knuckle! popped it back in, cleaned up the caliper, and had it on the ground in about an hour. It's at Wilcox now for tire mounting, balancing, and alignment (which wasn't off very much at all). Through all of this, at least I didn't pay anything more than parts... for the hub & bearing.

I will buy a hubtamer some day... but not right away. ;)

BTW... Vic ROCKS!!!! Thanks again, bro!!

And, Dave, I took it to Wilcox on Dave & Scott's recommendation. They have the same Hunter equipment that JL has, and they are way closer. I'll be sure to biotch if they screw something up, tho.

[crew219]

And, Dave, I took it to Wilcox on Dave & Scott's recommendation. They have the same Hunter equipment that JL has, and they are way closer. I'll be sure to biotch if they screw something up, tho.

Hmmm they are not listed in the Hunter directory as owning a GSP9700.

How much for the mount and balance? I need to get some tires mounted as well . . .

Autoworks in Varna near the 366/13 junction also purchased a GSP9700 + 3500 mounter. They are quoting me $24 per.

Dave

[lotar_6]

Dave (@ Ridgeroad) went on and on about their equipment and how good these guys do w/ wheels. Nothing touches the lip, etc.. I didn't see them listed on the site, either, so not sure what to think. They quoted me $25 per wheel... more than most since they claim it's a bit trickier w/ sticky weights instead of lip weights. I think that's bs, but how would I know? I'll let you know how it turns out!

I've been to the shop in Varna (few miles up from 13)... is it the same place (old gas station looking place)? I haven't had anything done their since '01, though. They were ok, but felt I was treated like I didn't know anything.

[crew219]

Dave (@ Ridgeroad) went on and on about their equipment and how good these guys do w/ wheels. Nothing touches the lip, etc.. I didn't see them listed on the site, either, so not sure what to think. They quoted me $25 per wheel... more than most since they claim it's a bit trickier w/ sticky weights instead of lip weights. I think that's bs, but how would I know? I'll let you know how it turns out!

I've been to the shop in Varna (few miles up from 13)... is it the same place (old gas station looking place)? I haven't had anything done their since '01, though. They were ok, but felt I was treated like I didn't know anything.

No they opened a new shop . . . . much larger. Guy on the phone was really professional and polite . . . tempted to give them a try.

Could have a different brand of touchless mounter. JL has the hunter 3500 as well. There are quite a few diff types of touchless mounters . . . the 3500 is the only one that has the touchless bead breaker whereas the other ones would still require that you use the pry bar on the "floating" arm. Trying to find a place to mount my wheels, but i refuse to go anywhere without a roadforce balancer. I'll have to give wilcox a call. Sticky weights. . . BS. Almost makes me think that they do not have a roadforce balancer . . .

Dave