I agree with Brian...I ended up replacing both rear wheel bearings on my Alfetta, because the first one didn't cure the noise. I fabricated my own retaining ring removal tool by modifying a 4WD axle nut tool (sorry, I forget which one...it had 6 teeth). If I had to do it over again, I would add a guide sleeve (which I believe the Alfa factory tool has) that matches the ID of the wheel bearing as the tool had a tendency to pop out of the ring when torque was applied, and they do require a lot of torque! As I remember, the hardest part of the whole job was getting the old bearings out once the retaining ring was removed. One important fact of which not all may be aware: the rear bearings in our transaxle cars are the same part as an Audi 5000 front wheel bearing. I forget what year range, but the VW part number was 443 407 625 . At the time, I worked at a parts store that specialized in VW parts and we had a pretty good Beck/Arnley cross reference. The front bearings are the same as VW part numbers too! Additionally, there is a VW special tool for removal and installation of these type of double-ball bearings. The Schley Products tool number is 89500 (which I have, available to loan), although there is another one specifically for Audi that is 94350. If I recall correctly, this was well over 10 years ago, the tool didn't work perfectly because of the shape of the DeDion housing. I didn't have it when I did the first one and had to use a big ass slide hammer to get the bearing out of the housing....
Mark Tamas Eugene, OR 1979 Sprint Veloce (x2) Date: Tue, 8 Mar 2011 01:13:18 -0500 From: "Brian Shorey"<[email protected]> Subject: RE: [alfa] [Alfa] GTV-6 Rear Wheel Bearings
>Looks like I will be replacing at least one rear wheel bearing in the >near future. Assuming I can come up with the correct tool to remove the >retainer, is it required to replace them after removal? >Any advise? Offer of tools?
There are two styles of retainers - Alfetta style and Milano style. There are different tools. The Alfetta style is much better, in my opinion, as the tool gets a better grip on the retainer. You can also drive it in and out (in theory) with a screwdriver. The retainers are opposite threaded on the drivers side. You can use an Alfetta retainer in a Milano, and vice versa. I would strongly recommend having a replacement retainer on hand, and if you have a choice, make it the Alfetta style. The old ones can be frighteningly difficult to remove. If they don't pop right out, I cut them with a grinder and pull out the remains. Use anti seize on the new retainer. The rear bearings on these cars have strange symptoms. It's usually the unloaded bearing that makes the groaning noise.. HTH, bs -- to be removed from alfa, see http://www.digest.net/bin/digest-subs.cgi or email "unsubscribe alfa" to [email protected]
