'89 Sidekick rear axle bearings/seals question.

[Sidekick's Bro]

Hi all,
This is my first post here and I'm actually not a Suzuki owner. I'm here as a favor for my computer challenged brother. He's in the middle of fully restoring an '89 Sidekick in my mother's driveway.
His question/problem is with the rear axle bearings. are there any tricks or special tools or skills to replacing them? I've done this on old american car by taking the axles in to a shop and having them pressed off and new ones pressed on. Is it the same on the sidekick?

[jtgh]

mostly
drum off , may need slam hammer
drain oil
remove bolts behind backing plate
remove all shoes and springs. ( take photos or be sorry) or FSM
place slam hammer on axle, slam away, but dont let backing plate come with.
out it came, take it to shop,
you might buy the new bearings , seals and the new bearing retainer ring in advance.

when reassembling use Suzuki bond 1215 at plate flange inside.

plate torque is 20 ft/lbs.

there are 2 seals and 1 inner seal protector , each axle.
many have skipped the inner seal to their , unhappiness.
replace all 3 parts , bearing and collet retainer. 5 parts.

[Max]

http://www.suzuki-forums.com/1g-1999...rear-axle.html

http://www.suzuki-forums.com/1g-1999...s-learned.html

My rear bearings don't press off QUITE like the conventional bearing like you and I may be use to. There is a bearing RETAINER (as JT mentioned) pressed on to hold the bearing in place. You have to grind off the old retainer and install a new one.

I'd suggest getting a good manual which supports his vehicle to be sure of the process. But in the mean time:

Here's an OE parts source and diagram for the 89/90 Sidekick (and now that I see it, it's JUST like my 99' GV with the excepion of that spacer #25 that I don't recall).
From....
https://www.trademotion.com/partloca...24&catalogid=1


[1) AXLE HOUSING 2) COMPANION FLANGE 3) PINION SEAL
4) FRONT PINION BEARING 5) CARRIER 6) BEARING ADJUSTER
7) SIDE BEARINGS 8) DIFFERENTIAL CASE 9) THRUST WASHER
10) RING and PINION 11) PINION SHIM 12) REAR PINION BEARING
13) PINION SPACER 14) CASE COVER 15) PINION WASHER
16) PINION SHAFT 17) JOINT 18) SIDE GEAR
19) PINION GEAR 20) SHAFT 21) OIL SEAL RETAINER
22) AXLE SEALS 23) BEARING RETAINER 24) AXLE BEARINGS
25) SPACER 26) AXLE SHAFTS


You can get bearings and seals here, but no RETAINERS (bearing OR seal).
1989 SUZUKI SIDEKICK Drivetrain Parts

[jtgh]

what I said, replace 21 thru 25,
it comes off , just like a chevy truck.
for over 30 years now.
about as vanilla as it gets.

[Max]

Just curious Sidekick's Bro, what's leading you in to replacing them?

Oh! Welcome aboard too!

[Sidekick's Bro]

Originally Posted by Max

Just curious Sidekick's Bro, what's leading you in to replacing them?

Oh! Welcome aboard too!

Thanks.
Remember, my brother's the one fixing up the Sidekick 3000 miles away. I'm just the internet liaison for him. I recommended to leave them unless they're giving him problems, but he's hell-bent on replacing practically everything in the car "while it's apart". Thanks jtgh and Max for the directions and diagrams. He'll be thrilled that I could get the info for him so quickly.

[Max]

I haven't witnessed any rear bearing probs / history around this board, unless I missed em' is why I asked. I checked mine out when I had the axles removed to replace inner grease seals, and left the bearings intact with 212,00 miles on em'. The bearings are pretty stout items on these Zuki's to say the least.

Leave them in there unless you've got a known issue Sidekick! (do you think he heard me?)