Has anyone had success in changing the front bearings without buying about $500 in special tools required for the job?

This is on a 2001 VDP

 

I've read that a jeep? abs ring removal tool is the same and a lot cheaper, I'm yet to do the job, so can't confirm it, but if you use the search function you'll find it.

 

Been there, done that. I tried a couple of suggestions from this forum for "alternate" ABS ring removal tools and the ABS rings on my XJR were on so tight that none of the so-called "cheaper solutions" would budge them without slipping off. I finally broke down and bought the right tool (found one on eBay that had never been used for $97), fabricated a beefier breaker bar by welding a 1/2" to 3/4" drive socket adapter to a piece of heavy 1" square tubing, put the ring removal tool on it, and slipped the assembly into a 4' long piece of pipe as a "cheater" in order to break them loose (the hub was clamped in a large shop vise on a heavy steel table). My son also has an XJR and we later used the tools on his car with the same success. We could not have done either car without the right tool, however, so my advice is to bite the bullet and buy the correct removal tool. You will save yourself a lot of frustration, busted knuckles and money in the long run. Here is the tool:

http://www.motorcarsltd.com/206-066A.html

 

I bought the bearings on line and found a local mechanic who would do it for, I think, $125 a side. Now, summers during college, I did this same job on a press for getting bearings out and in on Caterpillar idler rollers and there is no magic involved nor the $1,600 wanted by Jag dealers. But I don't have room for the press so the next best thing was finding a good mechanic who had reasonable rates.

 

Hi
$125 per side is a very low price. I had the passinger front bearing replaced about 2 months ago. The Indy labor was $206 with tax (2.4 hours @ $80/hr). I supplied the bearing.

Jim Lombardi

 

I removed and replaced the hubs myself (including changing all the suspension bushings while I had it apart) and paid $40 to a guy to press out the old bearings and press in the new bearings (my 12 ton press wouldn't budge the bearings). Total cost = $137 for both sides (plus the cost of the new bearings) and I have the correct ABS ring removal tool now that I can use on my other Jag (and have already done my son's XJR since my first post above). When you have done it once, the subsequent times are much easier.

 

The ABS ring tool is the same as what Ford uses on cars. Got mine off Ebay for $50 bucks. You don't really need the "special" tools for pressing in and out the bearings. Just some normal bearing removal tools. Just be careful not to seperate the new bearing when installing the hub/spindle.

 

Could you name a few of the Ford models so that people know which one to look for?

 

I read that the Fusion uses the same tool. It was listed on the auction when I got mine.

 

On my 99 VDP, I bought the tool from motorcarsltd for like $130 or so shipped overnight to me. It worked like a charm. I tried all kinds of stuff to get the old one off, but all to no avail. I have never seen another car with exciter rings like these. It turns the ring by gripping the little hemispheres sticking up around the surface.

 

Is there a Ford part number for this tool, or a Rotunda number (Ford's tool brand name) ? I didn't see anything like that on eBay yesterday. Maybe only come up once in awhile?

 

I couldnt find it on ebay either, but on some forum a guy said that basically all you need a is a 2" 12 point 3/4 drive socket. I dont see how that would work, unless the 12 points grab the round things sticking up on the nut. SPX (otc) makes it though: SPX Jaguar | Detail

I also see this on motorcarsltd for $120 on the front page and $150 on the part detail page. Perhaps they are having a sale?

 

Don't waste your money or time on the 2" socket idea. I tried it, and it does not work. If your ring is on very tightly (and it most likely is), the socket will not stay on the ring. After it slipped off the ring repeatedly, I even went so far as to grind the socket opening down completely flat in order to get more contact with the ring, but it just would not work. I finally broke down and bought the correct tool, and even then, it required a 3' breaker bar and a 4' cheater to get the ring off. Save yourself a lot of frustation and buy the correct tool.....

 

I took my hub off and to my local machine shop. The guy there had it apart and new bearing pressed in in the time it took me to drive back home. He did not seem to think it was anything out of the ordinary. I don't remember the charge, but it wasn't much. I wouldn't attempt the press part anyway. It is a little rough getting the ball joints apart, but the tools for that are cheaper.

 

Yes, I just changed the front wheel rearing this week, And It cost me $24 for the bearing and $50 to press in te bearing. The ABS on the bub must come out. You can
use a dull chizzle and hit it counter clock wise to loosen it. Its okay if you mess up the back side of the ABS gear, you just can't touch the inner part of the ABS. Once the ABS gear is out you canjust press out the old bearing and then the new one in.
If you want to do it right with the tool< they are selling the ABS tool on e-bay for $79 with the bearing.

 

Can you post a link, because I couldnt find it. I also tried all kinds of stuff to get the exciter ring off of the hub. I thought it was ridiculous to spend $130 for a socket. I tried giant channel locks on the exciter teeth, a chisel on the teeth all around. I was even going to cut it off and buy a new ring later, but I thought that was a little drastic. Finally, after I got the socket, I was able to get the ring off with an impact and the socket. Damn these cars, lol