The AUSubaru.com.au Forums

hub breathers?

I'm thinking of having a go at making a set since my subi seems to be a water magnet at the moment. I've been thinking about it for ages but was wondering if anyone on this forum has had a go at it before?

I don't think it would be too difficult, the hardest part would be putting a hole through the casings on the rear bearings. The only thing holding me back from doing it on a test subject (old swing arm and front hub) is the fact that I have no power tools what so ever in my new location...

The next thing would be running the pipe work so it doesn't get damaged - mainly on the front end with so many moving parts etc.

Cheers

Bennie

Have you thought about putting a grease nipple in there instead and running it like a bearing buddy (commonly on boat trailers). Thus eliminating the worry of running pipes?

you wouldnt be able to make a hole thru a bearing, its too hard cast steel. Best way like what Matt said, is to get a grease nipple fitted and use grease gun to squeeze old grease out and freshen up. I do that with work's machines to prelong its life but problem is, the bearing will get hot for little while due not enough room for grease to sit in, once grease gets squeezed out then it'll stay cool. If the bearing stays hot constantly can fail
Cheers
AP

AlpineRaven wrote:you wouldnt be able to make a hole thru a bearing, its too hard cast steel.

Not through the bearing - if you've ever pulled the rear bearings out they are tapered rollers with a cylindrical casing. In the middle of this casing is where I'd put the hole so that the bearings aren't trying to roll through a hole. A blow torch might be the best way to get through the casing without putting too much heat into the rolling face. Then hammer in the casing in with the hole and the breather pipe lined up...

The front bearings have a spacer between them that floats, I'd drill the hole through the hub where the 90 bend piece won't foul on anything. A nut or something will have to be welded in and sealed with a weld, so it'll be an interesting one to have a go at but probably the easier of the two at the same time. Just hope I can weld onto the hub that seems to be a cast item...

It makes sense in my mine - there's no drilling through an actual bearing.

Cheers

Bennie

id say that hole area would be heat treated just a guess
i really like the grass nipple idea, just cause i like squeezing the old grease and crap out of the lathe and mill and seeing fresh stuff move in, kind of.........................................

erotic =P

Matt wrote:Have you thought about putting a grease nipple in there instead and running it like a bearing buddy (commonly on boat trailers). Thus eliminating the worry of running pipes?

I was thinking about this today - great in theory but I reckon it would end up weakening the stud axle as it would have to be drilled hollow (to half way between bearing mounting faces where a cross hole would be drilled) to allow a grease nipple to be fitted to the end of it... Then if this is hardened it would be more difficult to achieve than drilling into the hub - at least I think it would!

Can't wait for the silly season to be over - always a money drain yet great times had!

Cheers

Bennie