How to remove wheel bearing inner race from stub axle?

[bobbymitchell]

Hey guys, quick question.

I'm having trouble removing an inner wheel bearing race from a stub axle. I've tried several pullers but they all slip off. There isn't much material to grip to on the lower side of the bearing(refer to picture). I was thinking about heating it with an oxy, but i'm not sure it will work because i still won't be able to get enough grip with a puller.

Is there another way to remove an inner race without damaging the stub axle?

Also, the stub axle is from the front of an AW11, but i didn't put this in the title cause it had no bearing on the problem-no pun intended.



Apologies for blurry pic. Thanks guys.

[dangdang]

Strike the race side on (same direction as your red lines) with a largish cold chisel and hammer in several different spots, this stretches the race and helps loosen it.

[Bazda]

Or heat the race up with a gas torch.

[TERRA Operative]

To pull bearing races from small bearings like that to bearings that measure over 200mm across their inside diameter, we used to put a bearing puller on them and tighten it up to just put a bit of pressure on it, then heat the race with a hot flame to make it expand without heating the shaft too much. Get it nice and hot and wind the puller to slide it off.

[dangdang]

I was going to mention a bit of heat helps though I have seen people get carried away!!

Plus an oxy set is not always on hand for a home diy'er

[lexsmaz]

Obviously a bearing puller & a press is the proper / easiest way, the other way is you can grind down the full width of the bearing in one spot to as low as you can go, but dont grind through as you could damage the stub axle, then as mentioned in one of the posts above hit the ground spot with a cold chisel to spread the material & it then should almost slide off ..

[TERRA Operative]

^^^ We did this with thin bearing races on the pumps.


Also MAP gas torches are only $80 from trade tools etc.

[dangdang]

True those torches are handy little jigga's, may have to invest in one for the toolbox soon.

[hks7mgt]

Obviously a bearing puller & a press is the proper / easiest way, the other way is you can grind down the full width of the bearing in one spot to as low as you can go, but dont grind through as you could damage the stub axle, then as mentioned in one of the posts above hit the ground spot with a cold chisel to spread the material & it then should almost slide off ..

I saw a youtube vid of a dude that grinded a line down the side of the race with a very thin grinding disc (being very wary not to go all the way through to the axle) and then SMACKED it with a chisel and it literally popped off. Looked easy enough

Good luck!

[BLK_20v]

Did this a week ago, and i found the chisel to help enough to get a bearing separator tool in behind it and then i pressed it through. Though at home I appreciate you probably don't have a press.

[o_man_ra23]

You can put the whole thing in the freezer for a few hours to cool it down, then using a propane burner (Primus make a good 0.6kg one, BCF will refill them for a few dollars) heat up the bearing race. Then hitting with a ball pein hammer or cold chisel should cause the race to pop and allow you to get a puller behind.

I find grinding the race down low to be really effective too.

[troysota]

Guys, heat is not the best thing for a stub axle, after 20 years of practice the best way is to use an angle grinder to grind down the hardened inner race till thin then 1 good wack with a chisel and off she comes.
No damage to the stub, no stuffed chisels either!