What Puller For Front Bearings?
 

Hello,


I plan on doing the front bearings in about a month and have been researching everything I'll need. One sticking point is the puller I'll need to both remove the old ones, and install the new. Specifically I need to find a puller set that has a receiving cup with an ID of greater than 90mm for the removal, and a press plate that is just the smallest fraction less than 90mm for the install. Most all the hub bearing sets I see have hardware that is too small. It seems like the press plates on all, including the oft mentioned Harbor Freight one, max out at 88mm. There are some more expensive sets I've seen around sold by the specialty sites like Baum Tools and KTC, etc that don't list the sizes included with theirs at all, which is hard to believe since that information is so important. The front hub bearing has an OD of 90mm with a very small margin where the force to install can be applied. At present my plan is to use a 90 x 65 x 5 thrust bearing washer I have on the way from McMaster Carr and affix it to the 88mm press plate in the kit I already own. For a receiving cup I can probably get by with something from the Home Depot plumbing department...Some large-ish iron fitting or something. What are all of you using for this job???

Only one I've seen that has the pulling strength required.

I bought the HF one half price because somebody destroyed the 3/4" threaded rod which is not strong enough.

I destroyed 3-4 of those rods before I drilled out the bigger plates to 1" and upgraded my HF to 62,000# up from about 21,000 stock.

Astro Pneumatic Tool 78825 25-Piece Master Front Wheel Drive Bearing Puller Removal & Installer Adapter Kit W/Grade 8 Drive Bolt https://a.co/d/4QcLJQe

That's the only one that can legit pull a front bearing on X5.

46,000# force with 500 ft·lb lubricated torque.

3/4" grade 5= 24,000

It takes 32/37,000 to pull front bearing on X5.


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Just checking...you are not doing the rest of the front suspension are you?

It's a lot easier removing /reinstalling the bearing with the hub removed altogether.

I used a large 3/4 drive socket (from some tractor tools I never use) of the correct diameter to tap out the old bearing, and my mechanic used a press to install the new one.

Thank you for your reply. The bearing puller I have now has a 22mm fine thread draw bolt with a bearing plate, so that part should be ok. I see the Astro tool set DOES have a receiver cup that would work, but like most every other set I've seen, it doesn't have anything I could use to install the new bearing. Are people just pressing them in at the inner race?

There are very few shops that will do this kind of work in my area, at least nowadays. And the few that might I'm not sure I'd trust them to not damage the new bearings at installation.

Nope! That would damage the bearing and you'll be replacing it again. :rolleyes:

I am in the same position as you (but not actually needing the replace a front bearing) - my wheel bearing press set is a tad too small for the front bearings.
Did a great job on the two rear bearings I've replaced so far.

https://www.topmaq.co.nz/universal-f...r-kit-auve3700

When the time comes (if it comes!), I will likely take the same approach as you - use various DIY adapters to get it done...

For those of us who don't want to buy the tool...can someone
recommend a RENTAL tool set from local auto parts store
(Such as Advance Auto, OReilly, or AutoZone)?

This guy used a harbor freight pull kit for his front bearing job. Looks like it has the correct sizes, and was likely pretty cheap. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=2s8-8kH1AIU

I've never seen one with big enough bolt. You could DIY with plumbing parts etc as long as you have 7/8 or larger bolt.

I've changed 3 bearings with the 3/4 bolt but it destroyed the bolt each time.

I wonder what the dealer uses for this job? I can’t imagine they don’t use a press to speed the process up.