Replacing the front races

My5ABaby · 06-25-2008, 08:58 PM

Has anyone done this? I'm curious as to the results, procedure impressions, etc.

I just read the Mazdatrix walk through and it seems fairly easy. I priced out the parts from Mazdatrix to around $100 and I'm just not sure if it's worth it over getting a used hub for $25 (or whatever they go for).

Here's Mazdatrix's write up for anyone interested. http://www.mazdatrix.com/faq/frontbrg.htm

josh18_2k · 06-26-2008, 12:39 AM

you can get the bearings and seals at napa or whatever for much cheaper. i looked at the races tho.. and i didnt even wanna try. what i did was just pull the hubs and inspect the races. if theyre spotless, might as well reuse them. if not i guess you could try getting the old ones out. if you ruin the hubs in the process.. well you were just gonna buy used hubs anyway.

djmtsu · 06-26-2008, 07:16 AM

On my old 91 NA, I had a front bearing go out and trash the races and hub (thank god for warranties!!)

The local Mazda dealer had to order the whole hub from Japan, at a cost of $892.00.

I'll take a $25 used hub any day.

classicauto · 06-26-2008, 11:21 AM

The races are simple to remove.

Weld a bolt across the race, flip the hub over and give it a smack. Repeat for outer race, repeat for other side.

josh18_2k · 06-26-2008, 04:34 PM

thats thinking! ^
now where do i find a tig welder :-(

alexd · 07-03-2008, 11:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by classicauto

The races are simple to remove.

Weld a bolt across the race, flip the hub over and give it a smack. Repeat for outer race, repeat for other side.

Great idea. Sure beats the dremel notch method.

If your hub was rumbling, then you have to replace the bearings and the race. If it wasn't rumbling, then you just need to re-tighten it.

+1 on getting the parts from NAPA. mazdatrix is way overpriced on those.

06-25-2008, 08:58 PM	#1
My5ABaby Sigh..... Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Murfreesboro, TN Posts: 2,377 Rep Power: 20	Replacing the front races Has anyone done this? I'm curious as to the results, procedure impressions, etc. I just read the Mazdatrix walk through and it seems fairly easy. I priced out the parts from Mazdatrix to around $100 and I'm just not sure if it's worth it over getting a used hub for $25 (or whatever they go for). Here's Mazdatrix's write up for anyone interested. http://www.mazdatrix.com/faq/frontbrg.htm __________________ 1986 Sport: 132k miles, 5A (Sapphire Blue Metallic), Tokico Blues, Racing Beat Springs, Custom LED tailights (only S4 LED tails in the world), SSR Mark II, Racing Beat exhaust, S5 black interior, Rotary Resurrection rebuild at 120k miles Community Service Manual RotorWiki "Imagination costs nothing; we could build square locomotives or fly to Mars" - Felix Wankel Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That is why it is called the "present." Last edited by My5ABaby; 06-25-2008 at 09:01 PM.

06-26-2008, 12:39 AM	#2
josh18_2k Rotary Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Gresham, OR Posts: 473 Rep Power: 18	you can get the bearings and seals at napa or whatever for much cheaper. i looked at the races tho.. and i didnt even wanna try. what i did was just pull the hubs and inspect the races. if theyre spotless, might as well reuse them. if not i guess you could try getting the old ones out. if you ruin the hubs in the process.. well you were just gonna buy used hubs anyway. __________________

06-26-2008, 07:16 AM	#3
djmtsu My minds tellin' me no... Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Murfreesboro, TN Posts: 4,043 Rep Power: 22	On my old 91 NA, I had a front bearing go out and trash the races and hub (thank god for warranties!!) The local Mazda dealer had to order the whole hub from Japan, at a cost of $892.00. I'll take a $25 used hub any day. __________________ 1976 Mazda Cosmo RX-5 1976 Mazda Cosmo RX-5 2003 Toyota Tundra TRD 2015 Toyota 4Runner SR5

06-26-2008, 04:34 PM	#5
josh18_2k Rotary Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Gresham, OR Posts: 473 Rep Power: 18	thats thinking! ^ now where do i find a tig welder :-( __________________

06-26-2008, 11:21 AM	#4
classicauto crash auto?fix auto Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 816 Rep Power: 18	The races are simple to remove. Weld a bolt across the race, flip the hub over and give it a smack. Repeat for outer race, repeat for other side.