When to Replace Wheel Bearing Grease

I have finally gotten into wheel bearings and what I am able to get off in my hands does not look like the picture of the part I am to order. This picture shows the part to order - inner bearing and race. In my hands after removal from inside the wheel hub, I have only the piece on the left (picture) - I have the bearing, but not the race (as I understand it). This inner bearing fits into a taper recessed directly into the hub. On the outer side of the hub there is also a taper and in it fits the outer bearing . . . I have no outer bearing race on my front wheel assembly.

My assumption is that I do not need the races and can simply dispose of them and the bearings (inner and outer) will fit into their respective tapered recesses of the hub.

. . . and so my answer to the Digiratus question is a cautious "No, the races are not pressed onto the wheel spindles, as there are no races in the assembly."

 

if you are going to replace the bearings replace the inner races as the bearings wear to the races. It is a messy job and if you dont have a long punch it can be a frustration one. On a 1 to 10 skill level it is about a 2. Do not use bearings made in China. let me repeat that, do not use bearings made in China, it is that important. If you have to buy a Japanese or an American made bearing off the internet and wait, do it.

 

The races are pressed into the hub. You can remove and replace with the help of a taper punch and hammer. remove the old race, then drive the new one back in.
Start on one side of the race and alternate to the other to try and drive it out as evenly as possible.

 

The front wheel bearing job is finished! In fact it has been finished for a couple of weeks and I used the opportunity to do a couple of other things (brake rotors and pads and flexible line) on the front wheels. Thank you to everyone who had input and provided hand-holding on this. I was tentative in setting out to do this job, but now feel quite confident I could disassemble and reassemble without qualms. Very likely I would not have done this task without the support from all of you who participated in this thread. Thank you very much. Confidence and personal satisfaction are bonus outcomes. Again, thank you very much.

 

Does any one have the Koyo part numbers for the wheel bearings/races for the 1st gen 2WD? Rear bearings as well, I realize they are press on.