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Re: Wheel Bearings

Posted: Thu Jun 02, 2016 9:39 pm
by DB RX63
I have used a local bearing specialist (Kent Bearings) in the past, they cross reference the part dimensions and I've had no problems with fitment on the Elford, which is an S2. So that could be an option, or Mazdatrix or Mazda can supply some bearings and don't forget the spacer on the rears, which has to be pressed on.

Re: Wheel Bearings

Posted: Sun Nov 13, 2016 11:38 am
by kenwhiteside
Diff out and half shafts removed yesterday. Any tips on bearing and retaining collar removal? I have access to a large press so can I press off the old bearings and retainers together or should I just cut off the retainers?

Re: Wheel Bearings

Posted: Wed Nov 16, 2016 8:32 pm
by kenwhiteside
To those wanting to do this I managed to press the bearings and retainers off as one no issues. Took about 8tons of load on the press

Re: Wheel Bearings

Posted: Fri Nov 18, 2016 6:19 pm
by Hobbawobba
Nice work! I'd like to get a spare axle somehow and make it like new/upgraded so I can swap it over quickly hahaha

Re: Wheel Bearings

Posted: Tue Dec 06, 2016 9:55 am
by Boggy2112
I used a bearing specialist in Manchester, took the old ones in and they matched them up great. http://www.bearingmart.co.uk/ £40

I also used new disk set and pads, from EBC. Think that came to £120

Re: Wheel Bearings

Posted: Wed Dec 07, 2016 8:59 pm
by gt_james
I remember doing my rear wheel bearing that I tried to chisel the spacer off for like 40 minutes then gave up and took it to my friendly garage. they pressed it off and new one on in a couple of minutes and wouldn't charge me 8-) I got the bearings from germany I think

Re: Wheel Bearings

Posted: Wed Dec 07, 2016 8:59 pm
by gt_james
Boggy2112 wrote:I used a bearing specialist in Manchester, took the old ones in and they matched them up great. http://www.bearingmart.co.uk/ £40

I also used new disk set and pads, from EBC. Think that came to £120
S2 or 3 brakes?

Re: Wheel Bearings

Posted: Wed Dec 07, 2016 9:46 pm
by Boggy2112
S2 mate, but ECB had disc rotor kits for S2 and S3. Am sure bering mart will have the bearings as they stock over 1000. And they let me try them out before i payed for them.
Cheers Dave

Re: Wheel Bearings

Posted: Fri Mar 31, 2017 8:47 pm
by kenwhiteside
So the replacement bearings are in but the rear side still feels like it has some play in it. I remember someone on here commenting that they had this also and only solved it by replacing the diff bearings?

The Mazda manual refers to checking the end float and shimming for earlier modes but this is about adding float not removing it. The other option of course is that the retainer has come loose or the pattern wheel bearing is duff (width and diameter measured as per part removed).

Any thoughts?

Re: Wheel Bearings

Posted: Fri Mar 31, 2017 10:07 pm
by codge
kenwhiteside wrote:So the replacement bearings are in but the rear side still feels like it has some play in it. I remember someone on here commenting that they had this also and only solved it by replacing the diff bearings?

The Mazda manual refers to checking the end float and shimming for earlier modes but this is about adding float not removing it. The other option of course is that the retainer has come loose or the pattern wheel bearing is duff (width and diameter measured as per part removed).

Any thoughts?
Yeh, that was me Ken.
Original diff only had about 45,000 miles but if you rocked the rear offside wheel it felt like play in the wheel bearing. A string of MOT testers huffed and puffed over this for 3 or 4 years but all gave an advisory not a fail.
In fact it was play in the diff side bearing on that side. Think about it like the half shaft sitting in a 'loose' diff side bearing an arms length or so from the wheel.
I cured it by swopping the diff for a 125,000 miler from a breaker. No problems since.
Manufacturing tolerance fault I would say.