On 2011-08-10, wrote:
On Aug 10, 7:23*am, Randy333 wrote:
On 10 Aug 2011 04:21:39 GMT, "DoN. Nichols"
wrote:





On 2011-08-10, wrote:
I want to replace some wheel bearings on a traditional RWD
"live"axle. *In the past I always took them to my local automotive

[ ... ]

* *What I have done, in the distant past, was to use a bench
grinder (no angle grinders in those days) to grind a flat on the inner
race until I got *close* to the axle. *(Say perhaps 1/8" or 0.100").

* *I then took a hefty chisel and hammer and drive the chisel edge
into the center of the flat, with the edge parallel to the axle.

* *This split it, after which it slid off fairly easily.

Agressive grinding will anneal the race so the chisel will cut in.
This has worked for me also.

Actually -- the grinder I had was not capable of being that
aggressive, so it was the still hard bearing metal under tension which
broke when the chisel was hit.

[ ... ]

What make of diffs are you guys working with anyway? I've replaced
bearings many times on my diffs, take the pin out of the diff, slide
the axle in, remove clip, slide axle out and use a slipper and slide
hammer to get the seal and bearing out of the housing. 10 minute
job. Takes longer to drain the diff than to do the job. Mostly Ford
diffs.

Pin out of differential? This was a single-piece tube
differential and axle housing. (A friend's early Ford Mustang, FWIW.)
As I remember it, it was remove the wheel and brake drum, unbolt the
axle flange and slide the axle out with the inner race still on it, then
try to find a way to remove the inner race with limited tools. (My
power tools at the time were a hand-held electric drill and an ancient
6" bench grinder (which I still have, and which still works).

Enjoy,
DoN.

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