Rear bearings - fitting help

[miked]

Project car. S4

After getting all my TTR bits I am now getting ready to put the shafts in the alloy struts. I also got the bearings from TTR. Have fitted the inners and dust shield to the shafts.

The inner bearings have an "o" ring set into the outer race for a seal (I presume). I have just cleaned up the alloy, got all my special bits for pushing etc. I have tried a hand trial fit with the shaft (offered up) just to see how they start. Tight or not. Are in pretty good condition. I got down to the "O" ring touching the alloy case. It is snug. I am a bit worried that this may ride up and snarl. Or will pass through and then snarl on the circlip groove. Has anybody else fitted these TTR inner bearings. Or is it just case of a small amount of grease on the lip and get on with it. The grooves for the "O" rings are deeps so it might be me being a tart.

After having some good discsion about all this 12 months ago and doing it right (no side load) I dont want to have a balls up after all that.





Mike

[elangtv2000]

Coincidentally, I just finished the same project on my S4 Elan. It might be helpful to know that these bearings are used in other applications, and were apparently not designed for use by Lotus for this application.

Having watched the procedure a couple of times before and seeing that some inner bearings have the groove and o-ring, while others do not, and seeing that none of the bearings I've seen in these projects have been installed with the o-ring, my advice is to delete the o-ring. You don't need it, since the bearing is a press-fit into the housing, and in fact, should also have green bearing threadlocker applied as insurance. Grease would ease the bearing into the housing, but could also encourage it to spin, which would be undesireable. This is especially important if the inside bearing surface of the housing has become enlarged due to numerous bearing replacements.

One other aid to installation is to warm the housing to about 110F and cool the shaft with bearing in the fridge, then install. This eases sideloading on the inner bearing, since you'll be pressing on the shaft to install that bearing into the housing at the same time as inserting the shaft through the outer bearing. Too much heat on the housing will cook the threadlocker, too much cold on the shaft will encourage condensation.

Good luck,
Greg Tatarian
Lotus Elan S4
Triumph TR6
Alfa GTV

[miked]

Thank very much Greg,

I have the cleaner and two types of Loctite - the stuff for larger gaps and the normal. I will take out the O ring. When I was writing about a smidge of grease I was thinkingit was a bad idea.

I know what you mean about the chill and condenstaion and also the heat making the loctite go off. Will be careful.

This is why I hate this job. I get all paranoid.

Thanks very much, will get back in the garage and have a go. I think is the most anoying bit on the whole car.

Mike

[rgh0]

The bearing were used on a ford live rear axels (escort I think) so the orings were there to seal the axle and diff oil in. Not needed in the Lotus application.

I use a three pronged tool made out of a suitable length and size of pipe with 3 cut outs that passes the 3 lugs on the shaft and presses on the inner bearing outer race. This enables the shaft and inner bearing to be pushed into the housing with no side load. As mentioned chillng the shaft and bearing and heating the housing minimises load and risk of scouring the relatively soft aluminium as you press it in.

cheers
Rohan

[miked]

Rohan,

I made one of these after your advice last year. Piece of pipe with the three cut outs. It worked great.
I also had a collar turned to press in the outer bearing. It is just bigger than the shaft and just smaller than the ally. Like a thick washer. The outer bearing is parallel so i figure it was a good idea. Had a rebate put on it so a piece of pipe sits over it. Figure this is better than pushing on the inner race of the bearing alone. Being parallel the whole thing is pushed square on. Used heat on the case.

I put the shaft in the press on its feet and used this to push the outer bearing on. As I got to the very last part I was very careful feeling the movement between the pushing collar and the edge of the ally. As I felt the movemet cease I stopped. Also kept having a gander at were the bearing was relative to the circlip groove. It is two man job. I had my youngest helping. This allows more care.

Have done both and they feel nice. I am well plessed. I am pretty sure that I have not side loaded anything this time.
I feel I learnt something here.

Thanks.

Mike

[ppnelan]

It might be helpful to know that these bearings are used in other applications, and were apparently not designed for use by Lotus for this application.

Yes indeed! This was very useful when my cement mixer bearings fell apart and I discovered they were identical to the Elan rear wheel bearings - I just picked some off the (garage) shelf

Matthew