The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk wheel bearings

How do I remove the wheel bearing from the front brake drums? In the shop manual it looks like I need some special tool that I dont have. Having never done this I am probably missing some simple thing so no laughing at the newbie!

Just use a pry bar like the straight end of a carpenter's wrecking bar, and pry the grease seal out of the hub. The simple way is to remove the outer bearing, screw the nut back onto the spindle without the bearing or washer, and let the inner bearing catch on the nut as you yank the hub off. The inner bearing and seal will stay on the spindle as they catch on the nut. Always replace seals, BTW, don't try to reuse them.
Jerry

Autozone has all the tools you need for rental.
They give a full refund upon return within 90 days.

On my 1/2 truck front wheel bearings I just used a sturdy screwdriver and hammer to drive the bearing races out, using the slots that allow access to the races from the inside.

If you need to drive the outer races out of the hub, use a piece of soft steel or brass, NOT a hardened tool like a punch or chisel. The bearing race is hard enough that it can chip if struck with another piece of hardened steel, and the chips are razor sharp. One of my employees got a sliver of flying bearing race imbedded in his right eyebrow, and before it stopped moving, it ended up above his temple. It hit his hard skull, and skidded around his head about 3 inches! if it had hit an inch lower, it would have pierced his eyeball.

Safety first!
Jerry