Re: [ihc] differential bearings

[bearbvd@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx (Greg Hermann)]

At 6:58 PM 12/15/03, Steve Jackson wrote:
>Let me start by saying thanks to everyone on this mailing list.  What a
>great resource!  If I didn't have access to all y'alls collective
>wisdom, I'd probably be driving a showroom jeep.
>
>OK, so here's a question.  I'm putting a new rear differential in a Dana
>44 on my '72 Scout II.  I'm having one problem however.  How can one
>pull the bearings off the differential without destroying them?  I need
>to determine backlash and find the correct shim combination, but it
>requires some measurements without shims.  Then, I have to pull the
>bearings, install the shims, and install the differential.  Other than
>having the special tool that is illustrated in the manual (a 2-jaw
>puller with a special jig for "craddling" the bearing) how can you get
>those bearings off without breaking them?
>
>I've tried using a 3-jaw puller (one "jaw" snapped without moving the
>bearing a milimeter), prying with screwdrivers, and doing a special
>bearing removal dance.  None of these approaches have worked!  Where can
>I get the special tool?  Is there an alternative?  Does anyone in DFW
>have experience doing this and would they be willing to help me out for
>some kind of reimbursement?

Best trick on this is to, when the old bearings are off, take a die
grinder, and make the little pockets for the tips of the puller jaws a
little bit bigger.

Greg