Xsara picasso front wheel bearing and brakes ESP version

[CGATCX25GTITURBO]

my wifes picasso needed a bit of attention after the tell tale humming sound told me one of the front wheel bearings was on it's way.
I had a few on the shelf bought for a BX 17TZD I had 8 years ago but were never needed

It has done 61,000 miles and was still on its original pads and discs but as they were showing signs too and I didn't want to prat about I bought a full disc and pad set. As the car has ESP it uses the 283mm things on the front not the 266mm version.

I've always managed before but also bought a piston retractor kit from ebay £28 plus post, and what a piece of kit. Should have done it years ago. The back discs and pads were very quickly as was the side not needing the wheel bearing on the front.

I had searched on here for any tips as I've not had to do anything to this car before now. I even had the local MOT station change the oil every year Disconnecting the Abs sensor made a lot of sense 'it is stuck fast in the hub'. The hub itself was a bstard to remove pinch bolts rusted to the hubs etc. I've not seen anything like this on any BX or CX before.

I had to take a dremel to the circlip in the hub as there wasn't anywhere to attach the circlip tool! it had rusted through. I had to take it to my local MOT place for them to press the bearing out and the new one back in. Every BX one I've done had popped out in a vice before now... with a bit of 2lb persuasion This refused to do anything until the 10 ton press got to it.

No drama really just though I'd share

[cachaciero]

I noticed that there is a post on here re C5 hub bearings requiring 12T to get it out, That just seems a lot for an interference fit I wonder if they fit these things originally with "cold" bearings into "hot" hub carriers.

On the subject of mileage 61K isn't a lot is this another case of the bearing only being marginally man enough or is it just that they fitted crap bearings in the first place or is it that the interference fit is too interference causing some stressing /warping of the bearing with resultant high wear rate. Just idle speculation.

cachaciero

[CitTone]

I wonder if they fit these things originally with "cold" bearings into "hot" hub carriers.

Probably - the missus objects to me putting car parts alongside the leg of lamb, though...

On the subject of mileage 61K isn't a lot is this another case of the bearing only being marginally man enough or is it just that they fitted crap bearings in the first place or is it that the interference fit is too interference causing some stressing /warping of the bearing with resultant high wear rate. Just idle speculation.
cachaciero

Our C3 is now showing classic wheel-bearing-thrumm symptoms, and the BoL describes the bearings as "designed to last the lifetime of the car". We're on 78K....is that a "lifetime" for a modern car, then?

[meexi]

Our C3 is now showing classic wheel-bearing-thrumm symptoms, and the BoL describes the bearings as "designed to last the lifetime of the car". We're on 78K....is that a "lifetime" for a modern car, then?

The C3 is a pain to do as the bearing has the ABS ring built in so you have to watch what you hit with the club hammer

[CitTone]

ABS ring notwithstanding, I have been rather put-off DIYing it because of the apparent need to completely remove the strut.

With no available garage space, and no hydraulic press, that could be biting off more than I can chew...

Lump hammer...? In my Mini days, perhaps...oh...and removing seized discs from the Picasso (*$*@#)

[RichardW]

...oh...and removing seized discs from the Picasso (*$*@#)

Bit late now, but it's a piece of cake.... Jack up, support both sides, wheels off, extract the disc screws (OK, that might not always be a piece of cake), start engine, engage drive in 2nd, stand on brake. Loud bang greets loosening of first disc. Jump out, fit 2 wheel bolts in that side, repeat driving exercise, loud bang greets freeing of other side. 5 minutes tops if you walk slowly

[CitTone]

Umm, yes...I guess that would do it !!!