I know this is an old thread that I'm resurrecting.

But isn't there a concern about the tons of pressure you are exerting on the internals of the front differential when you are using a threaded puller like in the pictures? To "POP" the bearing all at once must take enormous pressure. Using the power steering method you are applying thousands of ponds of pressure to one bolt at a time, and it barely moves. If the hub isn't moving all that pressure from the puller is going somewhere, and in this case it's pushing the front drive axle into the differential.

a cause of concern?

 

Yep, To me I see it as a sure fire way to damage the U joint or axle at least..If not damage the Bearing.

I have always had good luck with the power steer pushing it.

 

i may be wrong but when i used a 3 jaw puller to remove my unit bearings it looked like the outer axle shaft push in against outside of the axle housing. Not against the differential or bearings. but i may be wrong on this.

 

Nope, that shaft is simply sitting in the axle tube recess. If the bearing doesn't break free, tons of pressure is being transferred directly to the differential. Not good!

And there is no way you can put the pressure I'm seeing in these pictures against the bearing and not cause immediate damage or have it fail at some point in the future. You are pulling on the outside of the bearing but the bearing is captured to the knuckle by the inside. The only thing holding the two pieces together is the race and the bearings them self.

I recently completely replaced my whole front end with a Free Spin kit so i got to see every part of the front axle.



I caution folks from using the method on this post unless you are planning on replacing the unit bearings anyways.

 

where is the cheapest place to get one of the spin free kits

 

Alright, it's time to do the driver's side axle joint again on my truck.