Annual test... GRANTED!

[wasted]

The Scala just failed its MOT - but only on the rear wheel bearings, which I can live with! One's got "excessive play", the other is "noisy".

I'm at work at the moment, so I don't have access to my Haynes - can someone refresh my memory on how straightforward it is to replace the rear bearings? Also is it worth just dismantling everything, giving it a good clean, examining their condition and reassembling?

[Nate]

the price of new rear bearings, just change both and be done with it. easy enuf job, bit fiddle tapping the bits out of the hub, but i'd guess it only gets a 1 or 2 spanner rating from mr haynes. just make sure you get the new ones well packed with the proper grease

[wasted]

Ok, sounds good. Is the rumour mill surrounding GSF bearings justified? They're obviously cheap, but I'm not 100% convinced on whether that's a good thing!

[the edmundator]

I haven't had a problem with GSF bearings. I bought a set of blunt chisels to knock the bearings out and back in again. I work quite slowly (lots of standing back, ruminating and drinking tea) and it takes me less than an hour to do a bearing. Check the condition of your rear brakes while you've got the drum off (especially any leaks from the wheel cylinder) but don't dismantle them unless you need to as the springs can be a bit difficult to get back in place.

[wasted]

Ok, great. I actually replaced both rear cylinders last year, so I know what you mean about reassembly - thankfully I used to own a Hillman Super Minx that had an even more ridiculous setup, so I know what I'm dealing with!

Does the inner bearing come out without dismantling the brakes then? That makes things a lot easier...

[vr_powered]

I havent bought bearings from gsf in a while but it was the febi bearings i had problems with, they seemed to change over to another brand after that and the ones i bought from them for my gtx 5 years ago are still going strong, cant remember the brand came in blue boxes, still got a box somewhere

[Mr Funk]

(lots of standing back, ruminating and drinking tea).

That's how I work. Can't believe the Haynes Book of Lies doesn't mention this as required.

[wasted]

I will never trust Haynes since this:

Steering Column Spline Adaptor - Removal
1. Remove steering wheel.
2. Remove adaptor.
3. Reassembly is the reverse of removal.

Yeaaah, Haynes, whatever you say.

[Nate]

Ok, sounds good. Is the rumour mill surrounding GSF bearings justified?

i've never had a problem with them. a bearing will normally fail in a short time due to either using the wrong grease, or not enuf grease, or by being over or under tightened.

[wasted]

Nate - having just phoned GSF, they have multipurpose grease in stock, but nothing else really. Would this be ok in your estimation?

Cost of rear bearings is £11.15 per side, for OE quality units. They do have £6.75 ones, but not totally sure about those.

[haddock_n_chips]

I will never trust Haynes since this:

Steering Column Spline Adaptor - Removal
1. Remove steering wheel.
2. Remove adaptor.
3. Reassembly is the reverse of removal.

Yeaaah, Haynes, whatever you say.

that should read:

1. remove steering wheel (easy enough)

2. remove adaptor by smashing it repeatedly with a hammer, chisel, then try a hub puller to get it off but it still wont budge, go back to the hammer and smash some more and if you are really really lucky it will pop off

3. give up because its dark and put it all back tomorrow

[Funky Diver]

rear bearing kit, it should come with the right amount of grease in it.

[the edmundator]

The last kits I bought had no grease. I just use loads of the GSF multipurpose grease, seems to do the job.

[Nate]

i normally use LM2 bearing grease. it needs to have a high enough melting point. don't take this too far though - a mate had a bearing done by one of the smaller fast fit chains on his mk3 golf. they packed it with copper grease. it failed within 300 miles

[wasted]

Cool, thanks guys. Off to the parts shop tomorrow!