How to remove rear axle bearings Ford 8"

36tudordeluxe

36tudordeluxe

Well-known member
Without getting a rear axle bearing puller & slide hammer as this is a one time only operation; does anyone have a method of removing the axle bearings from a Ford 8" axle housing?
 
out of the housing or off the axle? if out of the housing you will probably need a big slide hammer hooked to chain hooked to a couple wheel studs, if taking it off the axle you will need to cut the lock ring holding to bearing on the axle,the bearing is pressed on then the lock ring is pressed on to lock the bearing on the axle, i use a torch to cut the ring, you can use a long chain bolted to a couple of wheel studs and then jerk the chain to snap the axle out, that is after you remove the plate holding the axle and bearing in the housing
 
Any 8 inch I've ever seen had the bearing on the axle and a seal in the housing.

A slide tool is the best way to remove the seal.

Once the axle is out, a press is needed to remove the bearing off the axle. Local auto parts store may have the press to do the axle.

To remove the axle, undo the four bolts holding the cover plate and pull
 
Take your small cut off wheel and split the bearing part way and it will remove easy. Find a press to install. They normally go on real tight.

Someone will chime in about putting in the freezer.
 
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paul2748 said:
Any 8 inch I've ever seen had the bearing on the axle and a seal in the housing.

A slide tool is the best way to remove the seal.

Once the axle is out, a press is needed to remove the bearing off the axle. Local auto parts store may have the press to do the axle.

To remove the axle, undo the four bolts holding the cover plate and pull
Click to expand...

You're right about seal/bearing; I didn't do a very good job of explaining myself. I'll check with NAPA where I got the bearings & seals & see if they have a press.
 
Back in the 60s we would cut the ring and bearing off with a torch, and the install the new one by putting the stud end of the shaft on a short chunk of railway steel we had. We had a 3' length of heavy wall pipe that would fit over the larger diameter of the shaft. We then would put the bearing and ring back on the shaft, put the pipe on the shaft and commence to hit it with a BFH until it was seated properly. I still use the same method, and it still works. :)
 
Can't argue if it works. However, if you buy the bearing from parts store, they usually will change it for next to nothing. Certainly saves a lot of time and trouble.

parklane said:
Back in the 60s we would cut the ring and bearing off with a torch, and the install the new one by putting the stud end of the shaft on a short chunk of railway steel we had. We had a 3' length of heavy wall pipe that would fit over the larger diameter of the shaft. We then would put the bearing and ring back on the shaft, put the pipe on the shaft and commence to hit it with a BFH until it was seated properly. I still use the same method, and it still works. :)
Click to expand...
 
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