Tip for removing (front) inner wheel bearing race

[sciroccos at earthlink.net (Jim R)]

Thanks for the tip!

>-----Original Message-----
>From: Mark F. [mailto:mk1mark@xxxxxxxxx]
>Sent: Friday, May 18, 2007 10:24 PM
>To: Scirocco list
>Subject: Tip for removing (front) inner wheel bearing race
>
>
>I recently picked up this 20 ton press setup
><http://home.cogeco.ca/~mardak/20ton_press.jpg>, and while R&R'ing the
>front wheel bearings on my 91 Jetta Coupe I remembered this little tip
>to remove the (usually) stuck-on inner wheel bearing race that I
>learned while working at an automotive machine shop a while back:
>
>Mount the hub in a large vice and heat the race up in one spot with an
>oxy/acc torch until it's glowing red (not sure if a propane torch will
>heat it up hot enough, but it probably will if you have a heavy duty
>torch head).  Then take a (fairly) sharp chisel punch and give it a
>good whack with a BFH in the center of the glowing red spot.  Cool
>everything down, and the race will sometimes even slide off by hand.
>Here's a pic to show what I mean:
>
><http://home.cogeco.ca/~mardak/inner_race.jpg>
>
>Sure beats trying to pry that fucker off with a puller, which is an
>exercise in frustration...
>
>Just thought I'd share..
>
>Later,
>
>Mark.