> Date: 28 May 2000 13:15:04 -0000
> From: tom warner
> Subject: Re: GMC: GMC -- Front Wheel Bearing Service
>
> Olin it is not necessary or desireable to remove the knuckle from the
coach
> to service the wheel bearings, and I really do not understand how this
> practice got started. It is sometimes extremely difficult to remove the
> lower ball joint from the knuckle with out the proper removal tool, and it
> is possible to damage the ball joint if you are not careful in removing
it.
> The easiest method and the one I use is to follow the method in the GMC
> manual by removing the hub with the slide hammer. You can see this method
on
> Billy Masseys site at: http://www.web-access.net/~bmassey/twarner.html.
>
Tom, thanks for your response. I looked at the reference above on Billy
Masseys site and found the same material that I had already printed out from
your puller "ad" on GMCmart. A good description of the technique, and
actually the copy of the GMC Motorhome News article that I referenced in my
note. Still no pictures of the "slide-hammer procedure", though. I'm glad
for the reassurance that my preparations, at least for the tools that will
be required to use in conjunction with the Warner puller are proper.
Thanks again.
Olin Boyer
77GMCPB
> ------------------------------
>
> Date: Sun, 28 May 2000 06:06:42 -0700
> From: gene
> Subject: Re: GMC: GMC -- Front Wheel Bearing Service
>
> Interesting you bring this up. I posted some pictures of just this
> operation that I saw at the Ukiah rally. In fact, several of the
> good-ole-boys use this technique.
>
> http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=128904&a=5547699
>
> I did not have the references before, and now I am going to post this on
my
> site with a better link.
>
> gene
>
> >In the pictures available on the net showing the front wheel bearings
being
> >serviced, invariably the operation begins by removing the tie-rod end,
and
> >the upper and lower ball joints, then after removing the brake caliper,
> >pulling the knuckle and the hub as a unit.
> >
> >In the procedure outlined in both the x-7525 and the x-7725 service
manuals
> >and the bearing puller instructions in the June 6 GMC Motorhome News, a
> >slide-hammer with a plate across two wheel studs is used to pull the hub
> >from the knuckle without removing anything but the brake caliper, leaving
> >the knuckle in place.
> >
> >I just received my Warner puller, and I'm gathering other tools that I
will
> >need in order to use it. I've fabricated the "strap" needed to use my new
> >slide-hammer, purchased a 1 1/2 inch 3/4 inch drive socket and a 3/4 inch
> >drive torque wrench for removing/replacing the axle nut, and selected
> >several allen wrenches that I'll need for the puller cap screws and the
> >caliper bolts. I have an old 1/2 by 9/16 box-end wrench with the proper
> >offset to get at the 3 retainer to knuckle bolts, and I still plan to put
a
> >3/8-16 NC tap in the tool box to clean up the knuckle before trying to
> >re-insert those bolts.
> >
> >Can someone tell me why, in the descriptions of this service operation
that
> >I find on the net, no one seems to be pulling the hub from the in-place
> >knuckle as instructed in official maintenance instructions? Do I need to
> >plan on some additional tools for removing/reattaching the knuckle? Is
> >another tool going to be needed to remove the hub from the knuckle if the
> >knuckle is not connected to the front suspension?
> >
> >I thought I had this about figured out, but there seems to be a bit of
> >confusion, possibly just a difference of opinion?
> >
> >Comments, anyone?
> >
> >Thanks for any light you might be able to shed on this problem.
> >
> >Olin Boyer
> >77GMCPB
> >
Gene, the pictures that you referenced of the Ukiah wheel bearing service
seem to illustrate something completely different than the servicing that I
intend to perform. The folks are shown using some sort of "pipe cap" that
has been fitted with a "zerk", supposedly used to force grease through the
bearings without removing them from the hub spindle! True, they are not
shown removing the knuckle, but they didn't use any sort of bearing puller,
either. Neither do the pictures show how the hub was removed from the
knuckle. Did they use a slide hammer?
By the way, I found these pictures on your site a couple of days ago. The
index on your site did mention front wheel bearings, which is the way I
found them earlier.
On a separate note, thanks for the pointer to Patrick's Alcoa Wheel
write-up. I sure enough missed that one when looking through your index!
Thanks again for the information service you provide on the "California
eagle".
Olin Boyer
77GMCPB
> From: tom warner
> Subject: Re: GMC: GMC -- Front Wheel Bearing Service
>
> Olin it is not necessary or desireable to remove the knuckle from the
coach
> to service the wheel bearings, and I really do not understand how this
> practice got started. It is sometimes extremely difficult to remove the
> lower ball joint from the knuckle with out the proper removal tool, and it
> is possible to damage the ball joint if you are not careful in removing
it.
> The easiest method and the one I use is to follow the method in the GMC
> manual by removing the hub with the slide hammer. You can see this method
on
> Billy Masseys site at: http://www.web-access.net/~bmassey/twarner.html.
>
Tom, thanks for your response. I looked at the reference above on Billy
Masseys site and found the same material that I had already printed out from
your puller "ad" on GMCmart. A good description of the technique, and
actually the copy of the GMC Motorhome News article that I referenced in my
note. Still no pictures of the "slide-hammer procedure", though. I'm glad
for the reassurance that my preparations, at least for the tools that will
be required to use in conjunction with the Warner puller are proper.
Thanks again.
Olin Boyer
77GMCPB
> ------------------------------
>
> Date: Sun, 28 May 2000 06:06:42 -0700
> From: gene
> Subject: Re: GMC: GMC -- Front Wheel Bearing Service
>
> Interesting you bring this up. I posted some pictures of just this
> operation that I saw at the Ukiah rally. In fact, several of the
> good-ole-boys use this technique.
>
> http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=128904&a=5547699
>
> I did not have the references before, and now I am going to post this on
my
> site with a better link.
>
> gene
>
> >In the pictures available on the net showing the front wheel bearings
being
> >serviced, invariably the operation begins by removing the tie-rod end,
and
> >the upper and lower ball joints, then after removing the brake caliper,
> >pulling the knuckle and the hub as a unit.
> >
> >In the procedure outlined in both the x-7525 and the x-7725 service
manuals
> >and the bearing puller instructions in the June 6 GMC Motorhome News, a
> >slide-hammer with a plate across two wheel studs is used to pull the hub
> >from the knuckle without removing anything but the brake caliper, leaving
> >the knuckle in place.
> >
> >I just received my Warner puller, and I'm gathering other tools that I
will
> >need in order to use it. I've fabricated the "strap" needed to use my new
> >slide-hammer, purchased a 1 1/2 inch 3/4 inch drive socket and a 3/4 inch
> >drive torque wrench for removing/replacing the axle nut, and selected
> >several allen wrenches that I'll need for the puller cap screws and the
> >caliper bolts. I have an old 1/2 by 9/16 box-end wrench with the proper
> >offset to get at the 3 retainer to knuckle bolts, and I still plan to put
a
> >3/8-16 NC tap in the tool box to clean up the knuckle before trying to
> >re-insert those bolts.
> >
> >Can someone tell me why, in the descriptions of this service operation
that
> >I find on the net, no one seems to be pulling the hub from the in-place
> >knuckle as instructed in official maintenance instructions? Do I need to
> >plan on some additional tools for removing/reattaching the knuckle? Is
> >another tool going to be needed to remove the hub from the knuckle if the
> >knuckle is not connected to the front suspension?
> >
> >I thought I had this about figured out, but there seems to be a bit of
> >confusion, possibly just a difference of opinion?
> >
> >Comments, anyone?
> >
> >Thanks for any light you might be able to shed on this problem.
> >
> >Olin Boyer
> >77GMCPB
> >
Gene, the pictures that you referenced of the Ukiah wheel bearing service
seem to illustrate something completely different than the servicing that I
intend to perform. The folks are shown using some sort of "pipe cap" that
has been fitted with a "zerk", supposedly used to force grease through the
bearings without removing them from the hub spindle! True, they are not
shown removing the knuckle, but they didn't use any sort of bearing puller,
either. Neither do the pictures show how the hub was removed from the
knuckle. Did they use a slide hammer?
By the way, I found these pictures on your site a couple of days ago. The
index on your site did mention front wheel bearings, which is the way I
found them earlier.
On a separate note, thanks for the pointer to Patrick's Alcoa Wheel
write-up. I sure enough missed that one when looking through your index!
Thanks again for the information service you provide on the "California
eagle".
Olin Boyer
77GMCPB
