Slide hammer

[Four Paws]

I need one...any recommendations?

 

[jakethesnake]

What ya usin it fer

 

[jakethesnake]

I have a ken tool one for tires I'm not sure if you can change the "head" or not

 

[Four Paws]

Axle Bearings in a GM 1/2 ton rear.

 

[jakethesnake]

I don't have a recommendation for that one. Guess you can't drive them out with a long piece of iron with a regular hammer. I doubt a ken tool is what you'd be looking for

 

[dieselfitter]

OTC Silver slapper. The 3 jaws will work to pull the axle bearings but I prefer this:
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/to...IGFaY_UdANwg1y4sTezgPVO09UNS6JBKWzxoC7snw_wcB
I made something like it. I ground a circular disc and cut a slotted hole in the center. I use the puller with a bolt through the center. The slotted hole allows the disc to be slid into the tube, behind the bearing.

 

[Duce]

Purchased mine from auto value parts. If you have and O'reilly's or the like, many have loaner tools. Northern tool has one for around 90 dollars.

 

[Wagnerwerks]

OTC or make one


At work we have snap ons. Nice to have the ends warrantied.

I also have your elbow.

 

[Four Paws]

Thanks for the replies.

I think the Matco branded kit is an OTC, just marked up to 2x.

The HF 16pc kit is $60 - 20% = $48. Probably junk.

I might rent one so I don't have to wait around for one to ship to my house.

I am getting tired of working on vehicles. Everything becomes a chore. A simple brake replacement turned-up a leaking seal. Now I feel compelled to replace the bearing, the seal, and of course the gear oil...another $100 out the window.

 

[junkman]

I just nip em with a cutting torch and they break out ,barbaric but a way if do not have right tool ,part of the junk man methods of car repair..

 

[Wagnerwerks]

Thanks for the replies.

I think the Matco branded kit is an OTC, just marked up to 2x.

The HF 16pc kit is $60 - 20% = $48. Probably junk.

I might rent one so I don't have to wait around for one to ship to my house.

I am getting tired of working on vehicles. Everything becomes a chore. A simple brake replacement turned-up a leaking seal. Now I feel compelled to replace the bearing, the seal, and of course the gear oil...another $100 out the window.

If the bearing is nice, I'd just do the seal and fluid. Replace it with something good like amsoil and be done with it. Obviously if there's wear... carry on. Lol.


I just looked at reviews... I think I'd snag the hf kit. Looks decent.

 

[Four Paws]

I'm leery of not changing the bearing...Murphy will catch me and I will be cursing. Worried that the seal failure allowed contamination (brake dust) into wheel bearing area...ultimately getting the bearing started on its road to failure. Seal leak was so small, it only coated the drum in hat e-brake. No oil on outside of vehicle.

Anyhow, the rig has 140K on it, and I am hoping it lasts another 140K.

I will check out the HF kit today.

@junkman The location of this bearing doesn't really allow for using a cutting torch. At least I don't feel comfortable doing that. This reminds me why I like working on heavy duty trucks with full floating axles.

Thanks for the feedback.

 

[Definitive Dave]

Only slide hammer i have fits in the palm of my hand for pulling welch plugs and check valves in carburetors

 

[dieselfitter]

I don't have any experience with harbor freight but I bought a cheap OTC knock off years ago. It's junk.

 

[Wagnerwerks]

I'm not saying don't do it.... because if I do it will go out right away. Lol.

The dirt doesn't get in through a bad seal. Oil leaks out and everything sticks to it. You do not have to consider that as a negative side effect. If your doing it as preventive maintenance because you chose to, there's no reason to change only one side. Do them both. I have 320k on one GM 8.8 rear with original bearings and my burb lost a wheel seal at 222k and drenched the back quarter panel. I did two seals and fluid, then degreased the rig.

 

[Fifelaker]

A friend of mine has the Harbor Freight slide hammer, he has abused it quite a bit and it will take a lot more before it goes in the scrap bin. This guy can break an anvil with a rubber mallet, he has had it for over a year and it is still good.

 

[Mastermind]

I pulled one by chaining a small block Chevy cylinder head to it.....and bam....bam.....bam.....

 

[Wagnerwerks]

I pulled one by chaining a small block Chevy cylinder head to it.....and bam....bam.....bam.....

You're an animal!
Did you take the clips out first or just rip the whole thing loose

 

[skidooguy]

I've had a hf slide hammer and it seemed to be the same quality as the higher priced one at napa. Probably built by the same chinamen. I've borrowed my buddy's snap on set a couple times and it's legit. 9 times out of ten I build pullers out of a hunk of scrap iron and some all thread. Don't blame you for not wanting to get the torch out on that job. I keep an electric hot plate handy for jobs like that if I need heat. For what it's worth hope some of this helps you out someway.

 

[Al Smith]

They aren't that hard to make .They aren't that hard to pinch your fingers with either .