Differential bearing removal

sonny30coupe

Senior Member
I removed the rear axles housings to replace the seals, I would like to go ahead and replace the differential bearings while I am this deep into it during this restoration, how do you get the bearing off of the axle? It seems to be stuck on there. Should it just slide off of there? Will I have to tear it up getting it off of there and then press on a new one? What is the proper procedure to remove that darned thing? It seems that the axle is loose in the middle of the bearing, but it is tight againt the differntial and I tried to pry a little or wedge a chisel in between the bearing and differential, but no luck. Do I just need more pressure? Help! Thanks for all the advice in advance, Sonny
 
There are several ways I have used, A heavy duty puller that has a push piece that fits in the axle hole (the diff carrier has to be dissassembled and axles removed).

A large bearing splitter and a press (with diff carrier dissassembled also)

When I am at a place with limited tools I have used a grinder,and punches/chisel ---

WARNING!!! anytime you are hammering on a hardened surface there is DANGER---a small sliver can shoot off and go very deep into you ---wear very good body ,face and eye protection.

Cut the cage and rollers off, --then there are several methods i use depending on the wether

Grind the race thin, crack it with a chisel --push it off.

Grind a notch in the race, use hand chisel, or air chisel.

Heat the race --push it off with chisel

Heat the race--then it just falls off

If you go at the parting line between the case and bearing with a chisel or other implement of destruction you can damage the bearing seat of the diff case, any damage, nicks, etc. need to be repaired so the bearing seats properly.

A proper puller is the best tool to use, and is the least dangerous, beating it off with an old blunt chisel can be the quickest--and most dangerous--to both you and the housing.

You should study some of the articles about rear axle rebuilding, and setting bearing preload, it is something you should check when you have it apart, other members here can give you links if you ask, I can not think of them now ---it is off to work for me now.
 
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