Best snap ring pliers for front axle rebuild ?

[Rigger]

Greetings Cruiserheads:

I'm assembling tools for my first front axle rebuild. I do not own a pair of snap ring pliers. I hear (read) that the snap rings can be a bearcat. Does anyone know what is the best tool (brand, product number, etc.) to buy for this job?

Thanks in advance for your help.

Rigger

 

[agent orange]

So far ive tried 4 different kinds, and the snap on pliers with the flat paddles worked the best. The others worked fine though.

 

[Rigger]

So far ive tried 4 different kinds, and the snap on pliers with the flat paddles worked the best. The others worked fine though.

Do you mean Snap-On brand, as in buy it from the Snap-On man?

 

[agent orange]

Do you mean Snap-On brand, as in buy it from the Snap-On man?

Yes, i mean the gasping for air sell your firstborn son straight out the truck snap on tools. My craftsmen worked fine till i broke the tip off, and i cant find the bag of tips it came with.

-Matt

 

[PAFJ]

IMO duckbill pliers work the best, I never had any luck with snap ring pliers.

 

[Rigger]

So far ive tried 4 different kinds, and the snap on pliers with the flat paddles worked the best. The others worked fine though.

IMO duckbill pliers work the best, I never had any luck with snap ring pliers.

I'm not 100% sure, but I'll bet you guys are talking about the same type of tool.

Yeesh, I'm such a Noob, but I am going ahead with this rebuild anyway!

 

[agent orange]

What im talking about it close to that, except you squeeze them to open the snap ring, with the duckbill you would have to spread the pliers with both hands.

 

[hatfieldcb]

Mine look like this. They're called E-ring pliers, for snap rings without holes. I've always preferred these over pliers with the removable tips.

 

[Dave-T]

Yes those rings in the hubs are a bear, I'm also looking for the appropriate tool. The camshaft also has a similar ring. Screwdrivers and needle nose pliers just don't cut it!

 

[Pathfinder]

don't mess with the removable tips. The suck!!!

Get the craftsmen much better!

 

[nuclearlemon]

Mine look like this. They're called E-ring pliers, for snap rings without holes. I've always preferred these over pliers with the removable tips.

i've got a few of that style also. they work great. bought em at sears, but they're not crapsman

 

[Phila cruise]

db pliers- ground backside

i ground the end in with a curve to catch the edges of the ring...

these are craftsman ... i don't know what they are called bt they act like needle nose but aren't a needle nose - think maybe those duck billed ones... i found it was just as hard to get back on...or maybe the finish line was calling real loud...you can do it though...

 

[RHINO]

the red handles ones posted above are great, you can get cheap'ish ones at pep boys for about $16,,, they work fine for the intended application and amount of use they'll see in an average garage.

 

[e9999]

yes, the removable tips would not be strong enough for this I believe

I have good ones, but probably the kind of tool you can get away with buying at Harbor Freight or similar since one will probably use it only 2x in one's lifetime...

 

[El Cazador]

Y'all are probably gonna scream at me but I've just used a small flat bladed screwdriver to remove that snap ring.

 

[trainrech]

NAPA has a good set of pliers for the LC snap rings - just check their miscellaneous tools kiosk. I think they were around $15.