Those &%$#) Snap Rings

leo

leo

Well-known member
I'm trying to get the snap ring out of a rear hub to pull the bearing. There has got to be an easier way! Please advise.....
 
Sometimes holding one part of the snap ring into the groove with plyers and prying with a screw driver on the open end you can snag the end of the ring and pry it up.
 
Just relax and, as Cal always would say, "You have to worry it off" after you do one, the next one will be easy. Dont poke yourself in the eye. Be careful.
 
leo said:
I'm trying to get the snap ring out of a rear hub to pull the bearing. There has got to be an easier way! Please advise.....
Click to expand...


Maybe some one has an idea to get these out ...

Suggestion:

Before you re-install these, look at picture that I attached.

Grind the upper end of the ring to the same angle as the lower end in photo.

Having both ends the same makes it easier to remove NEXT time.

http://www.snydersantiqueauto.com/snap-ring

After doing this the snap ring pliers will work next time.
 
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Looks like AL has similar idea in post #2.


THis might work.

Select the end of the ring that is shaped like the upper end of the ring in photo.

http://www.snydersantiqueauto.com/snap-ring

Find a screw driver wide enough to jam between ring and edge of groove and hammer it into the groove.

Driver must have the correct shape to jam the ring sideways BEFORE the end bottoms out in groove.

Maybe you will have to grind several times to get right shape of the wedge part of driver.

The idea is to stop that end of the snap ring from turning while you use an awl or ice pick like tool to lift the other end of ring out of the groove.

Might be a good use for Harbor Freight or cheap screw driver.
 
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Additional note:

I have tried snap ring pliers before but the shape of the end of that ring just slips off the pliers.

That is why I change the shape of the one end to make pliers less likely to slip next time.
 
I use a small screw driver to pry one end out a bit and then place a sharp awl against the edge of the drum pressing into the snap ring to hold the snap ring in place allowing the screw driver to get another bite on the end of the ring. Usually can get the awl behind the snap ring in three or so bites. Once the awl is in behind the ring the battle is won.
 
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