Thank you sooo much!!! I’m super thankful I didn’t have to replace my $10 Facebook marketplace shop vac! My “brass” bushing looked like a civil war era relic. You deserve an award for this video!

Thanks for the video was able to repair all three of my Shop Vacs two made around 2007 and my newer Shop Vac mini from 2020 with the same bearing. One thing to note as explained in the video it is EXTREMELY IMPORTANT to only press the bearing on the motor shaft until bearing cap is FLUSH with the motor laminations where the screws go through. The bearing is a tight fit between the inner race and the motor shaft but a rather loose fit between the outer race and the bearing cap. So you want to drive the bearing on just far enough so the loose outer race wedges itself inside the bearing cap and won't move. I pressed the bearing on too far while repairing my second shop vac and there was a slight grinding sound when the motor powered off. This was because the bearing outer race was wobbling and spinning inside the bearing cap (I was able to see the shaft wobble with the motor running). Luckily I had the tool (a split bearing puller) to pull the bearing back off so I could drive it back on properly. Long story short take your time and drive the bearing on little by little and test fit the bearing cap. It's easier to install than it is to remove.

You saved my 20 year old shop vac from the landfill. Although my vac looked different on the outside, the bushing section was identical and the bearing replacement fit perfectly. The biggest problem that I had was dealing with all the screw and bolt heads that had rusted to the point that screwdrivers and sockets wouldn't fit.

My shop vac has been screaming at me for years every time I shut it down. So I tried this fix six months ago, and it's been running great ever since. Thanks so much for the step by step instructions and the part number. It's nice to have a vac that works well again!

This worked! Lubricating the shaft did not work, but this easy bearing replacement did, and my 25 year-old shopvac now works like new. The place he linked has free shipping too, and I realized I've ordered bike bearings from in past years. Thank you!!!!

Thank you for taking the time and explaining thoroughly! My shop vac makes the same noise and now I can fix it. 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

Perfect example of planned obsolescence. What a waste that all of these shop vacs end up in landfills over a part that wouldn't cost the manufacturer 50 cents a piece. Thank you for posting your solution.

It’s been a while since I didn’t see such a great video in KZfaq, thank you so much 🙏🏻

Just did this fix to my shop vac and it's working good again with no horrendous noise! Thanks for posting this information!

Thanks for this video! I replaced the bushing on my shop vac today and am back in business!

Another THANK YOU!!! for letting us know about the 608 bearing that fits right in the bearing support bracket. Mine is working as it should now.

Thank you for this video. I successfully followed your process and replaced the bushings on two shop vacs with similar symptoms. The bearings worked fabulous.

Best explanation and solution for this problem of several vids I've watched. Well done!

Thank you for your video. I also had tried simply oiling the bearings, but it only worked for a short time. Then I discovered your video, ordered the bearing you suggested, and did the same repair on my shop-vac. The most difficult part is removing the clip that holds the bushing in. The gasket cushioning the brass bushing was totally shot. Nowt he noise problem is fixed! I assume this is a permanent fix but time will tell. I really appreciate you're coming up with this idea and taking the time to post the video!

Thank you! Just what I was looking for. Good tip with the socket underneath to not damage the fan impeller

I just finished your suggested remedy and it worked great. Grease from the brass bearing was pretty much gone. I have 2 Craftsman shop vac types and never had any issues. I will never buy a Shop Vac again. Especially since a bearing would be so easy to incorporate in the design. Thank you for your excellent video.

Great Fix! I started looking for bearings after watching this video for my 2 shop vacs. I saw on eBay they use these bearings on blade runner wheels . I then remembered I kept some wheels from my son's skates years ago . I popped them out and installed them on both vacs. Worked just like the video. No more growl. I'll see how they hold up.

I just did this fix on a 10 gallon Shop Vac and it worked. I didn't have a new 608 bearing available but I did find one in a burned up motor from a Bissell upright vacuum. The Shop Vac runs great now. BTW I didn't have to remove any of the machine pressing on the motor shaft bracket. I simply used a small screwdriver to pry the clip out.

Just received a 10 pack of bearings for 9.00 and did my first repair of my 4 shop vacs. It sounds so quiet and better than when I first purchased!! Excellent tip!!

I just performed this fix for my 8 gal shop vac...runs like new...you are the master!....Thank you

Yes sir! Thank You for posting this up. Just did it, $2.76 on Amazon, maybe a half hour work, saved my favorite Shop Vac!

Thank you. This was a great video. I just did your repair and my Shop Vac works like new again.

Thanks for sharing the bearing number!!! I was able to get out the retaining ring without any damage to the bracket by using a sharpened nail.

Fantastic easy fix! I put this off for years. Mine is a 12 gallon and the edge of the bracket that holds the bushing was factory crimped to retain the parts. I tapped the bushing out from the other end with a tiny screwdriver. The bearing fit right in! Now it spins easy and the vac has power and no noise!! Thank you!

Nice work and thanks for posting it. I had pulled my shopvac apart and lubed the bushing. Of course it did not last. Was thinking of pulling it apart to see what it would take to replace it with a ball bearing. Searched to see if anyone had gone ahead of me. You did and thanks. Even had the roller skate bearing on hand from another project. My motor shaft was a slip fit on the motor shaft and the bearing a sloppy fit to the housing. I used 3M super black weatherstrip adhesive on the outside and Loctite on the motor shaft.

Finally performed this repair on my whizzing/burning-smelling Shop Vac, and it worked perfectly. Thanks!

Awesome, awesome, awesome!! The older units seem to have much better windings as well. Thank you for sharing!

Just did this to my shop vac and it works like new!! Thanks for posting your video. I actually took a 608 bearing out of an old vacuum that had broken brushes. Well done!!

I wish I had watched this before tearing even farther into mine. I’m definitely going to be trying this. Thanks for the great advice!

Thanks for this excellent video. It may help me figure out what to do with a Craftsman model. I've done amateur repairs on Eureka upright vacuum cleaners for 40 years. The power-off spin down sound has long been my indicator of problems and successful repairs.

Thankyou for taking your time to share this! Can't see how this isn't an intentional failure point. I will add some bearing retaining compound on the outside of the bearing to tighten up the housing play. This really made my day. Again, thankyou!

perfect video. I have 3 shop vacs, a 14g, 16g and a 2.5, all of which eventually began to have the run down noise which one would assume, in addition to being annoying, is an indication of imminent failure. Going to try this fix!

Thank you so much! I don't know if I thanked you before. My son gave me one of his skateboard wheel bearings and I fixed the shop vac two years ago. It's just now worn out after 2 years and I'm getting ready to put in a new bearing. I'm hoping a wiper arm puller is going to fit under the bearing to pull it. The arms are too thick on the pullers I've got...

Thanks so much for this tip, did this mod last night, now the vacuum sucks insanely strongly and is much quieter.

This guy is a genius! Works like a charm. You don't have to cut the housing, forever. Put the housing in a vise and punch out the bushing an pry out the retaining clip.

Holy smokes. I had the very exact problem (Except my bushing clip had also broke) and I was looking for information to see if this very exact solution was possible, I got KZfaq bingo. Most awesome. Bravo.

This is just pure awesomeness! 👍 I bought another vac and opened right before I found your vid. I needed more power and I was also tired of the oiling method.. Now I have 2 🤣 Thank you so much what a blessing 🙌

Thank you so much for this video. You're description of how to install it is perfect. I have a large Shop-Vac and it's running like a pro. Thank you!!!!!!!!!

WOW! worked perfectly!! Thanks, I love these awesome hacks. Got mine from the link you gave and did not have to do any sanding, etc.

You sir are a genius !! I lubed the bushing and it worked for a while but the noise came back eventualy. I'm looking forward to try your solution. Thanks so much for sharing that video !

This video is extremely helpful brother. Much appreciate. Coincidentally that’s a standard skateboard size bearing…. Robbed an old board, re-packed, did ur hack and good as new!!! Love this!!!!!!!

Thanks, you rock. My shop vac has been doing this for a while. But recently started getting very hot. This fixed it right up.

It is my first comment on you tube. Your tutorial is a five stars help for an inexpensive and easy solution to give a new life to a tool that would have gone to the garbage. Of course you have to be a little bit handyman with a few tools but the result is amazing. Anybody can do that following your step by step instruction. And yes, I bought a good quality double side sealed bearing with your precious provided info for the right size. Thanks.

Good tutorial! Took me a little longer, but I'm old!! Went smoothly, started up nice and smooth... I used anti seize on the shaft, slipped on easy, I used a snipet of electrician tape to shim the bearing...it was a smidge loose...All good! Thanks!!!!

My Shop-Vac was making the same exact noise. Tried the oiling method first, but it too, stopped working after a short while. Ordered the bearing, replace bushing with bearing, and behold, a practically new vacuum that really sucks!! Great video tutorial!!!

Thanks for saving my shop vac, fix works perfectly! Plus I used the bracket itself with a rubber mallet perfect fit!!

This is awesome! I have replaced a few power unit assemblies over the years on a couple trying to save but this is obviously a great better then factory fix. Nice work 👌

I just complete the install. Works great! Thanks for the info, you saved me a hundred bucks on a new one.

Thank you for posting this! Fwiw, I was able to pry out the old brass bushing with a small flat head, then twist out the clamp ring with a pair of medium duty wire cutters. Pressed the bearing into the housing first, instead of the spindle (added tin beer can slivers to firm it up), and pressed that onto the polished spindle, with gentle tapping. Works like a new vacc! Yup, it totally sucks. :)

You are an absolute genius. I like your short asmr session at the end, relaxing :D Thanks so much for the trick !

Tha ks so much! Saved me buying new shop vac! Perfect fix! Really appreciate the tone to make the video and share your knowledge!

Great job I was ready to turn down a piece of brass and you saved me alot of time, thanks

Done today! Ordered the $4 bearing, took 1 hr to install, because i removed more bolts than needed, and it was harder to line up all the plastic so the screws would fit in the holes than to remove the old bushing (i used a hook nose tool and it popped the mount right out. No dremel, no notching of the holder. Works like a charm. Next, is the Utube video to spin the canister filter around on a screw and nut to remove all the fine dust and not have to buy another canister. My shop-vac is about 20-30 yrs old. this is a great video. thanks!

Just ordered the part. Fingers crossed. Thanks for the tip and the link!

Thank you for the info. I have exactly that problem and it is also a shop vac. I have never had this happen to me with the Ridgids yet.

Made this fix yesterday and it worked like a charm. Many thanks! On my vac, the bearing was not snug in the holder and was not snug on the motor shaft. I used CA glue (super glue) and an accelerator after cleaning the bearing holder and bearing thoroughly. Also, I removed the bushing clip by cutting it slightly with a dremel and cut off tool and didn't have to damage the holder. Shop Vac does have a limited lifetime warranty and will replace the entire power unit. I didn't have a receipt and the replacement cost was $70. This fix took me 30 minutes with the help of this video.

This was a great how-to and saved me a bunch of time and money. Many thanks!

Just picked up a Craftsman 20 gallon vac at the curbside. Someone had thrown it out with all of the attachments. Plugged it in and it made that noise on shutdown, ran good, though. Now I know what to look for. Probably a bit different, but I'll bet I can figure it out. I have a B&D battery powered weedeater making the same kind of noise. I'll bet it's the same thing. Thanks a million, General!

Thank you so much for posting this video!! I just ordered two bearings from the link that you provided - best of all - free shipping!!! It really burns me - the sheer hypocrisy of our society where we are constantly preached to regarding conserving natural resources and how the land fills are filling up - so we should do our part! Well, while I have no issues with looking after our planet, this very common practice of built in and forced obsolescence has become very tiring. As stated else where in the comments, it sure appears as if these motors were designed initially to accommodate a bearing as opposed to a bronze bushing. Or is there a much more expensive vacuum cleaner ( "commercial" grade perhaps?? ) that does use the same motor but for an extra $xxx, the company inserts a bearing that costs them pennies and voila! An instant heavy duty vacuum cleaner!! Well, at least the manufacturers have not woken up and realized that they can rivet things together and make them "non serviceable" by the public. Well, not yet anyways. A friend of mine has an air compressor made in the U.S. in the 1940's that was used daily until a few weeks ago when the crank shaft seal started leaking and the electric motor sucked oil into itself from the leak and it started to smoke. So for a mere $1800.00 he bought a new Ingersoll Rand - once a very good brand of shop[ equipment and yesterday, he discovered that the compressor was made in India. There is no way that this shiny, pretty looking new compressor is going to last for over 70 years, I'll promise you. Were I in his place, I'd spend a few dollars to have the electric motor cleaned and gone through and spent a few dollars on a new crank seal and just keep on keepin' on. Our attitudes today of throw it away and just buy a new one are for the most part, shameful, IMHO Just sayin'.....

many, many thanks. easy peasy after seeing your video. Notes: when replacing screws, put drill clutch on lowest / least torque setting which seems perfect for going into plastic. Skateboard shops sell 608 bearings but are rubber one side only with steel on obverse -- thus the -2rs noted in the video. With steel side inside the bracket housing (has a solid cap), I'm hoping it will last. if a little play, wrap a single layer of electric tape around bearing and trim off excess.

About to do this exact thing, as soon as I get that bearing set. Thanks.

Thanks for this video, wish I had seen this before. I went and purchased a new replacement motor. Anyway, I will fix the old one and have a spare motor.👌

Great video I have to shop vacs but I have had to lubricate a few times thank you for making this I'm about to order the bearings now for both of them

Just try this on my 15 year old Craftsman 5 HP Wet/Dry and it worked great just as you showed. It went from a very noisy unit that just started to smoke to a much quieter vac that even seems to be as powerful as it was when purchased. Thanks for the info!

The bronze bushing isnt designed to turn, the top shaft of the motor just spins inside it. Dirt and dried out lubrication causes the noise. The proper fix is to take the bracket off as you showed, and clean the inside of the bushing and shaft, with a q-tip, then put grease inside the bushing and on the shaft. Then put the bracket back on. Putting a bearing in there all that does is make the motor work harder , having to turn the bearing. In the bushing it just spins freely. I had a squealing motor, and watched your vid and mathias vid, which did help me, but I decided the top bushing just needed what I said above. So thanks for the vid. I was glad to be able to fix mine, I didnt think I could even get to the motor, but after watching the vids I knew there had to be a way.

The piece you replaced is not brass, brass is too soft to be used as a bearing. It is made from sintered bronze which is porous in order to provide a layer of oil between the bushing and motor shaft. As long as the oil is replenished periodically, the bushing will last indefinitely. The bearing you replaced it with contains a greater amount of lubricant, so it will last much longer. A sealed bearing is preferable to keep the dust out.

Your still getting comments after a few years. I have an actual shop-vac model lb550b that makes the same load sound. I took my shop vac apart to see if I had the bridge holding that bushing. Sure enough I do. I just so happen to have an assortment of nice bearings that may fit. I’ll cross reference and install this week with a response. Thanks again for the video.

GREAT VIDEO. I WILL TRY ON MINE ONE HAS SAME SYMPTOM .

I actually pulled mine out of the trash and will try this for sure. Thank you.

Awesome fix! I have a model 90L400 (blue 10G 4HP) and bearing/bushing started to squeal on turn on/off. The motor# 8132997 is still available, but half the cost of a new vac. Although before I got around to doing this fix the squeal started happening while running. Then next thing I know a cloud of smoke come out. I thought I had taken it to far and now killed the motor. But I let it cool down and tried it and the motor still run. So before using it again I did this fix. This motor fix is just like in the video. Although I was able to just stick a screw driver in the busing, turn it sideways and pop it right out. Then just grab the retainer clip and pull it out with pliers. I did not need to cut the bearing housing. I used the same bearing as in the video and it was almost the perfect fit. It fit the shaft just right with only a little taping needed to get it on. But I found it had just a little play in the bearing housing. I warped the bearing in some "heavy duty" aluminum foil, taped it in the housing, and trimmed the excess off. I took it back out of the housing and then put the bearing on the shaft as in the video, and then the housing back on the bearing with the little aluminum foil cover. Now it runs nice and quiet again...

I just did this repair. What I found out was inline skate wheel bearings are the exact same ones as well. You should be able to get one at a sporting goods store. I used a piece of 220 grit sand paper to smooth down the motor spindle and the bearing slid on without any hammering. Otherwise you'll never get it off if you need to replace it one day. Thank you for this video!

Well just did mine today and it WOKS!!!! This was a road side pickup and when I came home I turned it on no noise BUT the moment I turned it off it just made that noise. So called the bearing shop in my town and they had it in stock, cost me $3 and BAM it purrs like a kitten!!!! THANKS for your video!! BTW I was able to remove the bushing cage without doing any damage to the housing. 😁

I have 3 Shop Vac's. Two had the death rattle and I wound up doing this mod to all three yesterday. Comments: A) I used the orange HF hook tool that you used on the oil pad cover and was able to extract the screens without tearing up the edge, with the help of pliers. B) If I do this again, I'll use a block when first putting the bearing on. On one unit, the bearing went from resistant to shooting on almost too far using the socket. On with the block and then "gently" with the socket. Thumbs up.... I wish I'd known this a decade ago.

Just did this to my shop vac while I was in there for a failed power switch. The terrible noise is gone. Thanks!

my pre 1988 Craftsman 32 gallon shop vac has an upper and lower bearing. I rebuilt the vacuum and the motor. You should see the huge size of the brushes, they are super long, like new too. It has a metal top got rusty so took it all apart to paint it. I noticed the upper bearing is a loose in the motor support. You can wrap a piece of painters tape round that to tighten that up. You want the motor spin centered. You do not want the bearing to ever drag in the motor support, that can wear that pot metal. The 32 gallon old Craftsman uses a C clamp bearing strap with screws and has a channel cut for an oring to lock the bearing outer rim to the motor housing. I made my own bearing puller using a 2 inch long section of rectangular box steel (3" by 1.25" by 8 foot hollow steel post), made a hole and a slot and a 3/8 nut and bolt to push off the bearing. Slide the slot under the bearing and screw the bolt down on motor shaft and it easily pulls off the little bearings from motors. The steel pole thing is strong galvanized box pole about 3/32" thick. May have 50 years ago been part of an outdoor clothes hanger system.

It worked just fine on mine....thanks a lot Sr. You are the man

Interesting approach for fixing this problem, thank you for sharing. I bought a brand new 3 hp/6 gal Shop Vac and after less than 15 minutes of run time, it is already smoking and making that noise. Thinking I may try another brand after reading up on the bushing problems.

Thank you so much for this excellent video. Videos like these is why i love youtube!!!

Effective, to the point video. Some things I would add: get a good quality bearing like the SKF 608. I bought mine from Rodavictoria USA on eBay for about $4 and confirmed with SKF that it was genuine (apparently, there are fakes out there). The issue with the bearing spinning in the housing needs to be addressed somehow (and it is not in the video), but there are plenty of just plain wrong approaches in various posts. Use an adhesive and you will never be able to take the housing apart again. The electrical duct tape approach is a good idea (good for up to 221F), I used a bit of plumbers putty to secure it in the cavity, that is good to 250F. Thanks again for the video, would never have thought of replacing the bearing, that is genius.

Thanks for the video. Just did the fix and works great.

Excellent video and explanation! Thanks for sharing with us all.

Absolutely fantastic! Thank you!

Worked. Vac seems to spin a bit faster too

Thank you for making this video. Now I can stop Shop Vac's "time to fail". My Shop Vac sounds normal, but it makes a whine when I shut it off. Your Shop Vac appears to be a late 90's model.

Another thank you. And another 20-something year old machine saved from the landfill.

Thank you for your time and knowledge!!!! Working on it now

You are a great human being. Thank you.

Thanks for sharing your solution to us. You safe my day. 👍👏

nice video and exact fix for my screaming shop vac, good job & thanks

The reason is cost (for them) and also planned obsolescence, they can't sell you a new one in 5 years if it doesn't break. Time to go and take mine apart and see if I can't get it sorted the same way, thx for the video. Might even have a bearing that fits at work, looks exactly like the ones we use there in our assemblies that we build.

Wooooo! YESS. I did it! Heck yes! Thank you so much!! 🎉🎉🎉👩‍🔧

Just did this, very helpful, thank you.

great to know !!! got 3 noisy vacuums...

Been waiting on a Mighty Mini to give up the ghost. Guess it's gonna get some attention. Thank you for your video

I'm going to see if this hack will work on a Lasko 3300 Wind Machine fan I bought at walmart 15+ years ago.. Came across this video idk how long ago, saved it to some random place i forgot about w/the intent of trying this little project on the fan but was able to nurse it along for about a year now and she's finally too tight to run. I had lost track of your vid here during that time and kept searching for wind machine bearing replacement etc hahahaa. Finally found it again. Shop vacs smdh. I'll make sure to credit you if I upload a successful attempt. Thanks. Got a good set of calipers last year, time I used them.

Great video!!!!....🤔One thought I had about the bearing being lose in the bracket is making a shim out of metal from a soda can may give a tight fit. Or possibly a very light application of JB weld to the outside of the bearing before installing the bracket would work too.

Thanks, great info, don't need to buy a new one now!

Thanks to your post, I was able to use my ShopVac for a couple more years. The plastic support for the lower bearing cratered while in the "blow" mode. Judging by the sound, I think the motor was over-speeding after your repair. Has anyone else had this type of failure?

Thank you.. Very helpful.Was wondering if I could just replace the bearing and how or if it would fit , as I have many bearings of different sizes already..Thank you for sharing..

Great video and easy to watch and follow directions. I just saved myself a lot of $$$ and also saved a perfectly good shop vac from heading to the dump! The little bearing cost just a few dollars - used the same exact one in the video. Took about one hour and as I watched the video, it was well explained and the pictures were perfect. Everything went just fine. I felt a great accomplishment and wish every do it yourself video could be as well done as this one. Thank you!