206 axle bearings...again

[Chriz1]

So my cheap runaround is wearing the passenger side rear tyre I'm guessing it's the axle trailing arm bearings that have failed due to the lean on the tyre, although I can't find any play in the wheel.
I know it's good practice too get a reconditioned axle as the shaft wears when the bearings fail but as the car only cost me £500 I can't justify spending £200 on a reconditioned axle,
I've seen kits on eBay such as this
http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from= ... t&_sacat=0
How does the shaft in the kit actually work?

[Bick]

I would get the bearing kit from GSF if there is not one close to you they will do mail order.

[Chriz1]

Think I'm going to get it stripped and see how bad it is and if it's worth repairing first.

[xsaras4ever]

The shaft is press-fitted into the tube but it pokes out either end to carry the arms and bearings.
Its an absolute pig on this axle to replace, unlike earlier ZX, 306 , Xsara etc where the shaft is press-fitted to the arms and the bearings are internal to the tube.

Hope this makes sense.

[BX]

Watch the film in this webpage The technique can be implemented using 24mm or 1 inch high tensile threaded bar with a short length of 2" tube. The nut needs to be ground down to fit inside the tube. The ring of weld stops it coming out so it pulls the axle tube out. Do not weld the nut to the axle tube keep it well pushed in whilst welding. A piece of copper pipe keeps the weld spatter off the thread. The nut is then used to join two pieces of threaded bar(they usually come in 1M lengths) to reach through the axle to the opposite side in order to press in the new axle tube. Yes of course it works, I have done it.
Result, a good as new axle. Many of the reconditioned ones available have new bearings running on old worn rusted axle tubes. Most of the time they will hold together for the guarantee period.
https://www.ruville.com/en/all-about-us ... epair-kit/

[ekjdm14]

Nice video, and exceptionally nice tool (I like the use of wafer bearings to reduce the turning effort!). Did you use the actual tool or make one? and if you made it, did you bother with wafer bearings and how was the effort to tighten the nuts?

Looks like it may need the beam to be mounted on the car to be 100% effective, although I suppose a windy gun might help in our case where I have a spare beam to rebuild ready for a straight swap (rear wheel bearings and drums are so-so on the original anyway and new bushes and a coat of hammerite never hurt anyone either!_

[BX]

Shopping list.
2 X 1 metre lengths 24mm high tensile threaded bar.
4 X m24 nuts.
10 X 24mm plain washers.
30cm length approx 2" steel tube.
Short offcut of 1" or similar diameter copper pipe. (ask a tame plumber)
Piece of Plate with 25mm hole to fit over the end of the 2" tube. I used an old steel pulley.

Yes do the job with the axle in the car. I just used plain washers with plenty of grease. Stack a number of them under the nut. I joined the two lengths with the nut I had ground down to fit the replacements. It worked. I did worth about each piece having enough grip in half the depth of the nut but it wasn't a problem.
A thrust bearing would have been nice and would have saved a little sweat.

I had the piece of 2" tube. Well at least I think it was 2". Just needs to be able to fit over the existing axle tubes.
The whole job is a lot less difficult than it seems.
For good tips also watch this video. He only replaces the bearings but it shows what is involved. (3 parts to this video)

[ekjdm14]

Well the time has now come where I need to look further into this & if the tubes are below par on the replacement axle, take along that handy shopping list to the steel yard. Think I may try and locate a wafer bearing to help with pressing in the new tubes if required as well.