The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Driveline Replacing axle bearing and seal

Hi Ray,
I can probably tell you from memory. Others may chime in with suggestions. If you can find a slide hammer puller with two inside claw pieces (they sort of look like Js) it will make your job much easier. If you can't find one, you can use a couple of pieces of 1/4" thick metal with holes drilled in the center and a 3/8" bolt and nut that is long enough. Please let us know as that is another explanation. When you have the axle removed, insert the two claw pieces in the bearing's hole, adjust so they catch the bearing retaining piece (for lack of a better word it looks like a large washer). Then not using too much force whack the slide hammer against the end until you slide the bearing, the retainer and the old oil seal out. Feel around the inside to be sure there are no rough points or stake marks. Now you probably won't have a bearing installer tool but you can use a piece of wood. Put some oil on the outer part of the bearing, put the retainer in first and then using the piece of wood and a hammer, evenly drive the new bearing in until it stops. You'll need a piece of wood sized so you can use to drive the bearing all the way to where it stops. Now put a coating of Permatex non-hardening gasket sealer on the outside edge of your new seal, carefully drive it in all the way and you're done.