Front wheel bearing

[macplaxton]

Hi,

Had a bash at this on the way home from work yesterday as I've had to start using the GS again and it's grumbly-rumbly.

a) I was on the way home and not heavily tooled-up.
b) I haven't done one before, and hadn't read up on it before hand

So with that in mind, got the hub nut undone, removed the two bolts holding the top balljoint in place, removed the two bolts holding the bottom balljoint in place, quick strike with a hammer and split the track rod end taper. Wandered over to the bench with the hub assembly. Spent some time picking the rubber seal out. Then discovered the lock ring. Ahh. Gaahh. Decide not to proceed further to prevent immobilising the car and went home in disgust!

So I understand I need to buy/make a tool out of a huge socket with a bar slotted into it to engage with the two slots in this ring. I also understand that this ring is 'king tight. I also understand that I might need something tapered to push the hub itself out of the inner race. What is the plastic reducer bush all about in the new bearing? Is it surplus to requirements in this application? Do I need anything fancy to get it all back together.

Your thoughts please.... (calling Malcolm! )

Cheers,
Rich

[citronut]

i havent done one for many moons Max,

but a few years back i made a tool for undoing the ring nut on a dersh ( 2cv ),

i used a heavy length of probably 1/4 thick X 2inch wide steel bar, with a length cut from it to weld in a T format onto the face of the longer section,
to be used like a large hefty key which the T blade slots into the two slots in the locking ring,

before you try to undo it mind you drill the two peened points at the edge of the locking ring out,

i use a socket of as close to the outer diameter of the drive flange to drift this out,

hope this helps

regards malcolm

[macplaxton]

Thanks Malcolm, that helps a bit.

My understanding is that the two-'orse is similar in design, although has a slightly smaller lockring (or at least smaller slots in the lockring).

How long was the effective length of your special tool handle (including scaffy pole?). How big was your hammer to shock the ring for starters?

Having had a chat with Graeme Seed (who I found out no longer makes tools, but was still very helpful), I've got some plans in my head for something along the lines of the Citroen workshop tool. Rather than make a special one-off for a GS, it might actually get some use if it had the ability to be used on other Citroens of the same design. I don't have any here at the moment and don't intend to, but you never know!

[citronut]

the length of my tool ( oou la la ) is about 15 to 18 inch's and the T blade welded on about half way along the length,

the size/weight of limp hammer depends on the size/holding power of your vice

[macplaxton]

Cheers. I'll report back when I've made something.

[uhn113x]

Apologies for hijacking your thread, M, but have you managed to find a standard bearing that will fit?

My OS one (later type on GSA so might be different from the GS) is making a slight noise on right hand corners; I did strip and wash it which made it quieter but think I'll have to replace it maybe next year. There was no apparent corrosion or wear marks on races or balls.

How are you going to get the inside inner race out? One for Malcolm probably!

[macplaxton]

No problem about hijacking the thread Mr Phelan.

I haven't really looked for a standard bearing. I got a NOS one in a Motaquip box that is a SKF. I don't know either if the GSA is different. What may be different is there was some resizing of things in the driveshaft department around 1978.

The inside inner race I assume will come out with the outer. Not really looked that closely at the bearing yet. I have my tool plans in my mind though.

[citronut]

once you have pressed/bashed the drive flange out the inner inner race should almost fall out,

i dont think there is any difference between GS and GSA front bearings,

check ebay link below

http://tinyurl.com/q9qpq35" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Motorquip is part of the PSA group so as good as OE

[macplaxton]

i dont think there is any difference between GS and GSA front bearings,

There is, or at least the kit numbers are different. That is VBK 125. The kit I have is VBK132.

[uhn113x]

once you have pressed/bashed the drive flange out the inner inner race should almost fall out,

The problem I found with that was that both parts of the bearing come out easily, except the inner race of the inner bearing - the part that is attached to the shaft. That remains there and there's no clearance to get any sort of a puller between the flange on the shaft and the inner race.

i don't think there is any difference between GS and GSA front bearings,

check ebay link below

http://tinyurl.com/q9qpq35" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Motorquip is part of the PSA group so as good as OE

Price is good but I'm a bit wary buying one when he's saying "CITROEN GS 1.3 4/1981 - 1985" !
Also I came across a complete stub axle for an early GSA (1978-ish?) which is different to mine (1982) as the driveshaft is smaller and the hub nut fits the wheel flange is recessed more on the shaft.

'Twould be good if I knew what the exact spec of the bearings are on mine without pulling it to bits.

[citronut]

[quote="uhn113x"]
The problem I found with that was that both parts of the bearing come out easily, except the inner race of the inner bearing - the part that is attached to the shaft. That remains there and there's no clearance to get any sort of a puller between the flange on the shaft and the inner race.
[quote]


the bit the shaft goes through is the drive flange not the inner inner race,

as i said above press or drift the drive flange out, then the only thing holding the inner inner race will be the ball bearings

[macplaxton]

Price is good but I'm a bit wary buying one when he's saying "CITROEN GS 1.3 4/1981 - 1985" !

Well it's just the catalogue application reference as a guide.

The one from the GKN / Spidan catalogue is:

GS 70 -> 03/81
GSA 79 -> 03/81
GSA 04/81 -> 86

Now they all have the same rear wheel bearing reference, but the from April 1981, something must have been changed. Having looked up the numbers and trying to get some detail I've found:

Early front wheel bearings are:
OD = 80mm, ID = 40mm, W = 32.5mm

Later front wheel bearings are:
OD = 82mm, ID = 40mm, W = 32.5mm

Now obviously I'm going to add a disclaimer that I don't have the bearings in front of me to make a direct measurement, nor can I confirm for sure the changeover date. I'll throw them GS numbers I have up here later when I've had a look/measure.

Back to the wheel flange that is pressed inside the inner races. Once pressed out, the innermost/inner race should drop out. The outermost/inner race looks from the diagrams to remain in place until the outer race is extracted as the casting holds it in.

EDIT TO ADD SOME PICS:
This is the manual diagram showing a cross-section of the swivel assembly:

GX.41-1.jpg by macplaxton, on Flickr

and here is the manual references highlighted to the 82mm OD bearing

GX.413-3_Reconditioning_a_swivel_hub.jpg by macplaxton, on Flickr

which notes the change to an 82mm OD bearing from R.P. No 1667 (June 1981).

Any help their Mike?

[citronut]

the double outer race'ies can be pressed out with or without the inner raci'ies in place,

on fitting the new bearing you fit it as one lump/unit complete,
then whilst fitting the drive flange into the new bearing, mind you have something ( an old inner race ) or the likes against the new inner inner race inner face, to stop the inner inner race being pushed out as the drive flange goes through both inner race'ies

i know theres lots of inners inner there

[uhn113x]

I was probably looking at it after mid-day and my brain starts to pack up by then!

That's a great help, Mac. I can see what Malcolm means as well.
That said, I think I'll wait till next spring before I swap the bearing as I have quite a few non-car things to do at the moment; there's a pile of car and radio stuff to sort.

[CitroenCrazy]

I think I have the proper tool. Where are you based ?

Andrew