TomB Posted February 1, 2003 Share Posted February 1, 2003 How do remove the front dust caps to repack the bearing with grease? There is no ridge or depression to lever the cap of. There is the hole in the middle of the cap - do I use this? I thought of gently tapping a screw driver with a small hammer, but I wanted to check wi th you lot first. Might just pay for the service cos its a nice day today & the cars in bits, but then I wont learn how to do it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason Plato Posted February 1, 2003 Share Posted February 1, 2003 Yes , you use the small hole to either insert a screw and then tug gently or to get a piece of rod in there and gently prise off . They can be buggars to get off sometimes ..... new replacements are pennies ... dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomB Posted February 1, 2003 Author Share Posted February 1, 2003 Still havnt managed it. What is the part number incase I mangle them while trying again tommorow? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tony pashley Posted February 1, 2003 Share Posted February 1, 2003 A cheap slide hammer is the weapon of choice (borrow one from your local car thief). Otherwise, a big Vise-grip (mole grip) applied as tightly as humanly possibly can do the trick. They (the dust caps) are remarkably tough and it's unlikely you will render it non-reusable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevefoster Posted February 1, 2003 Share Posted February 1, 2003 I used a sharp small dot punch and make 2 little punch marks opposing each other near the hub but not so near as to give you no angle for the next part.... Then use these marks with the punch angled back and tap the cap off by alternating from side to side with gentle taps. My racing pics, 7 DIY, race prep. Updated often here Photo's of the year here Hants (North) and Berkshire Area club site here Edited by - stevefoster on 1 Feb 2003 20:13:24 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EFA Posted February 1, 2003 Share Posted February 1, 2003 I smash them off with a cold chisel and then replace them! Arnie Webb The Fat Bloke back @ 512k Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
allegro Posted February 2, 2003 Share Posted February 2, 2003 Screw a small screw into the whole and keep screwing. The screw will meet the nut on the other side and push off the cap. It really is that easy. Andy Mac C7 GON 😬 Team Langoustine. Hard Core Prawn here 😬 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Sewell Posted February 3, 2003 Share Posted February 3, 2003 With a junior hacksaw, cut 4 small slots (not all the way through the metal) at 90' intervals adjacent to the hubs. Then you can use a screwdriver to prise the caps off with minimal damage so that they can be re-used. However, I do believe that this service requirement is propbably a little paranoid as production cars run 100,000+ miles without bearings needing to be re-greased. Low tech luddite - xflow and proud! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Perry Posted February 3, 2003 Share Posted February 3, 2003 Don't be tempted to take up all the slack in the bearings. A little slack is needed as they are tapered. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomB Posted February 3, 2003 Author Share Posted February 3, 2003 Still havnt managed it, with small chisels, screwdrivers, bolt in hole, gentle heating, thumping with a hammer (damped through a piece of wood) & lubricated with penetrating oil. I hope they have been off before & the bearing have been greased before now!! I have spotted something called a 'Hub Puller' tool on page 306 off Demon tweeks catalogue. Is this a tool that is used for this job? Do you think it would be useful? Does anyone know the bearing repacking interval when the hubs are on a Spitfire or Herald? Is it as often as 6k? I have done most of the service - that should be enough prior to Silverstone in a month. After that, I may take it somewhere to get it all done professionally & the bits I cant do (bearing lubrication, wheel alignment, ECU, & some other bits & bobs). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Sewell Posted February 4, 2003 Share Posted February 4, 2003 I do not know about the Spitfire, but on my old Mk2 Escort and Manta there was no regular greasing of the bearings - they were lubricated until they either started making a noise or failed completely. I was once told that Caterham had 'borrowed' the service schedule from a Porsche dealer and copied it almost verbatim. Low tech luddite - xflow and proud! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Taran Las Posted February 4, 2003 Share Posted February 4, 2003 One point to note is that the rear seal has a felt pad attached to it. This attracts moisture when the car is put away for the winter. I repack the bearings at the start of each season which allows me to check the condition of the bearings at the same time. Tom. As stated earlier - use a flat screwdriver at an angle (aided by hammer action)and the stuborn devils will eventually come off. The hub puller is not what you require in my opinion. Philip. D. Owen Membership No. 3976 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mav Posted February 4, 2003 Share Posted February 4, 2003 Tom, If you want me to come round and help, then give me a call Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheds Moderator Posted February 4, 2003 Share Posted February 4, 2003 You don't need a hub puller, this is way OTT. In the past I have levered them open with a screwdriver like you do with a tin of boot polish if the opener is broken. If not then a few taps on opposing sides with a soft faced mallet moves them, bear in mind a few dents are academic. ISTR from my Spitfire ownership days a 12k or 24k bearing service (repack & adjust). On my cars I just check for correct endfloat and the presence of grease. Provided there is some there and they aren't overpacked (50% air, 50% grease) then I ignore them until they start moaning (120k miles & 160k Cavalier, 94k Volvo, 70k Alfa, 110k Spitfire). As a second check you can feel the hub after a long run, any more than slightly warm is a problem. Obviously this won't work if you have just been doing a fade test on the brakes and the discs are glowing... Taper rollers on modern cars are fit and forget items, so I wouldn't bother unless you think it could be dry. In any case Spitty bearings are for nowt when they do wear out. Finally, one of my pals reckons modern cars have less grease than they used to, says this can result in bearings giving up in <50k miles. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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