The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop stuck!

am trying to remove a rear axle bearing from an 89 GMC. It moved a quarter of an inch with the slide hammer. Now it will not budge. I have used a 3/4 hot roll bar inserted from the other side. It just chips off the end of the bar till it is chamfered all around. Any one else ever been here? Tomorrow I am going to get my die grinder and grind it down in one place till it is thin enough to give a litte. Unless some one has a better idea. I have a tourch but I will not use it on this. I'd rather not burn down my shop. Altho the fire house is just 50 feet away right across the alley. Mike

The die grinder is a good idea, but notch it in two places across from each other. I use a torch on them all the time. Just be careful not to blow a bunch of sparks down the axle tube. I soak a rag in water, and cram it a foot or so down the axle tube, then notch the bearing race with the torch. Be careful to cut ONLY the bearing, not groove the axle tube as well. Of course, we did stuff like that on the big rigs out on the side of the highway all the time, and didn't get concerned about it at all!
Jerry

thanks for the reply Hotrod, but the gas axe will be the LAST resort. I have used a torch with the wet rag and all on class 8 trucks and heavy equipment also. But I don't feel confortable doing it on this vehicle. Especially working by myself. This van has a 32 gal fuel tank 6 inches behind the differental. I am going to use the die grinder. I know I will get it, just may take a while. I hoped some one might have an idea that I haven't used. Mike

My favorite way to remove bearing races is to weld a thick bead around the inside where the bearings ride on the race with a wirefeed welder. This does two things: it destroys the temper and loosens the bond between the axle tube and the race, and it shrinks the race because the bead shrinks as it cools, pulling the bearing in with it. It should just about fall out. It takes much less time than the other methods and is safe as long as you don't spatter too much. It also doesn't heat the axle tube much, most of the heat is concentrated at the bearing. I pulled one out of an aluminum BMW control arm this way.

Josiah, that's what I'm looking for. Except I don't have a wire welder. Think an stick welder will do it? Got to get a drop cord for my Lincoln tomorrow and do that. Or, I have a friend that has a wire welder on his truck. Now if he's home this weekend I will be in tall cotton. Thanks. Mike

stick welder will work fine.
been der, done dat!

Josiah, your method works slick. Thanks a million. That's what this site is all about. The axle on the other side has very slight pitting in one spot, but the bearing is good. After having problems pulling the right side I decided to let the left side be. But now that I know it will come out with out a lot of hassel I ordered the other axle. Mike