Nothing for puller to grab - pilot bearing

[Booksix]

Ok, so I'm attaching a really poor pic, but you'll see that, so far, I've gotten the inner part of my old pilot bearing out and, for the outer part, I am left with nothing to hook the claw onto! I'm using a large slide hammer (the only one autozone had) with only 1 of the 3 hooks attached. I thought the outer part of the bearing would be the easy part to pull but as you'll see if you look really close, there is no "lip"behind the bearing to get the claw onto. It's like the outer part of the bearing is pushed tight up against a sleeve that has the same inner diameter - all you can see or feel is the break between the two pieces but it's paper tight... Any sugestions?

 

[maxine-70]

old school guys tell you that if you get something the same diameter as the hole in the pilot shaft bushing (like an old input shaft), then fill the bearing hole with heavy grease and then push the shaft into the bearing hole, that it will force the bearing out. i never had any input shafts lying around and when i tried using the plastic alignment tools, they werent a tight enough fit. physics states it would work though...

 

[Booksix]

Oh right, I forgot to say that I tried the hydraulic method already. But the fact that there really isnt a cavity behind the race (I guess you call it) doesn't help. Either way, I've tried it and it failed. But thanks... any other thoughts?

I looked closer and there are two reliefs (one on each side) but they are MUCH too small for the claw of my slidehammer to fit into...

 

[maxine-70]

i had this same thing happen to me once before and i am trying to remember how i did it. if im correct, i think i took a hammer and small sharp screwdriver and worked it until i had a slit lengthwise in the bushing, then it slid out. i did that on something but i cant remember if it was a roller bearing late model ford, a powdered metal bushing from an earlier ford, or a powdered metal bushing from on of my mopars.

 

[Booksix]

What exactly do you mean by "working it?"

I tried cutting a slot in it with my dremel but the only bit I had sucked and it would have taken forever. Not to mention that I figure I would need two slots, opposite each other, for this to work. Maybe I need to go get new bits tomorrow?

 

[Darkwriter77]

FWIW, the hydraulic pressure method (grease + snug-fitting item) worked perfectly for me. The slide-hammer I rented from Autozone was a total waste of time. I dug through all of my sockets and found one just the right size of outer diameter, packed the hole as full as I could of grease (you have to smoosh it in there right good with your fingers and get rid of ALL the air pockets, because air compresses easily and will ruin the hydraulic effect), then poked a 3" extension onto the socket and smacked it a few times with a 5-pound sledge (BFH). Popped right out.

Maybe give it another try, and PACK that hole full o' grease - I know there doesn't look like there's any space behind it, but trust me, there's enough to matter. At worst, you'll only be out a bit of axle bearing grease and a few minutes' time.

 

[millhouse]

If you look at the new pilot bearing you'll notice 2 small relief's. This is where the tool hooks into on the backside of the bearing. Using the removal tool for me was a piece of cake. The last ditch effort would be the hydraulic method…and I've heard that using bar soap shavings instead of grease is cleaner and easier…and just as effective.

 

[Booksix]

Ok, I'll try again. I think I need to get more air out. Had a lot of compression (bouncing) the first time. As for the reliefs, I noticed, but they are way to small to hook the claw of the slidehammer onto.

 

[millhouse]

Ok, I'll try again. I think I need to get more air out. Had a lot of compression (bouncing) the first time. As for the reliefs, I noticed, but they are way to small to hook the claw of the slidehammer onto.

I thought so too...but it still grabbed just fine.

 

[smallstang393]

+1 on grease method works great everytime ....for me

 

[Booksix]

Well, the reason the claws don't grab is because they are to big. So big that I can barely even get ONE of the three claws into the bearing. And using just one claw also sets the whole thing off for a pull.

Anyway, I tried the grease method again, now that the inner bearing is out and it worked first try (the inner bearing didn't allow a good enough seal because of the bearing needles - it all oozed out). Anyway, that was way easier than I thought it'd be. Thanks for the tips... guess I just needed to try a few times/different tools to get it right.

 

[millhouse]

Well, the reason the claws don't grab is because they are to big. So big that I can barely even get ONE of the three claws into the bearing. And using just one claw also sets the whole thing off for a pull.

Anyway, I tried the grease method again, now that the inner bearing is out and it worked first try (the inner bearing didn't allow a good enough seal because of the bearing needles - it all oozed out). Anyway, that was way easier than I thought it'd be. Thanks for the tips... guess I just needed to try a few times/different tools to get it right.

3 claws?!? You have the wrong puller man. There is a specific 2 prong puller tool used specifically for pilot bearings. Both legs fit inside the bearing and you tighten the tool which spreads the legs. You then attach the slide hammer and give it a couple of good tugs…and viola!

Anyways, at least you got it out.

 

[cenok is family]

same exact thing happened to me, i had to take a carbide dremel bit to it and cut it in half. took 5 mins.

 

[Booksix]

well no, actually I didnt get the wrong puller, as I stated from the begining, I got "the only one autozone had" Of course I would have gotten a pilot bearing puller if they had one... But yeah, I got it out anyway.

 

[93 LX]

I had to use wet paper torn in little pieces and kept pressing them inside. I used the brown paper bag. no grease no scratching the inside of the crank.

Allen