Rear Axle Bearing Removal

[cruiseroutfit]

Where did you source new bearings?

Local dealer gave me a part number of 90365-47005 that was replaced by 90365-47007 but discontinued.

We stock em

 

[cruiseroutfit]

And for the 73+ axle

 

[77TLCFJ40]

Thanks Kurt. I found them locally from @wct49 and 49 Tire & Auto & Cruisers!

 

[TractorDoc]

Here is mine. Yours was just way easier to get loaded! I have been following your progress. I am right behind you in the process. This is my first go at a restoration of any kind. Your pictures and details have been a huge help.View attachment 1369699

1. @cjonezy -- Good on you!
One of the things I liked about the FJ40 Restoration was it's relative simplicity -- gave me a little more confidence going into my first solo car/truck restoration. I appreciate you taking the time to read thru my stuff; I am glad to hear it helps someone else. I have used the details and pictures of many others on the forum to get where I am at also. Take your time and enjoy the process, will make driving the truck at the end that much better knowing you put so much of your own time and effort into the final product.

2. @LAMBCRUSHER and @73fj -- That is the coolest bearing puller I have ever seen. If you had a time machine you could take it back with you to the middle ages and double its purpose as a flail/mace to fight off the barbarian hordes!!

 

[73fj]

Thanks man, please feel free to copy away as the original idea was not mine, I made my version 20 years ago, unfortunately I do not remember where I found the design.

 

[CHCP]

These bearings rarely go bad unless the rear axle runs low on gear oil.

However, they do tend to get beat up pulling them out, so if you can leave them in place, the seal is easy to replace. But if you go to the trouble to pull them out, I would only put new ones back in. Take a good look at the rollers-any hint of pitting or rust, I would just replace. In fact, I'd recommend you replace them if it's all apart anyway. That's just good practice.

I've rarely been able to extract rear axle shaft bearings without some kind of damage to the bearing roller cage, it won't take much abuse.
Be really careful putting new ones back in.

 

[77TLCFJ40]

What is the trick to remove the race on the pre '73 axles?

 

[cruiseroutfit]

What is the trick to remove the race on the pre '73 axles?

On the shaft? Carefully make a cut with a die grinder through the race... When you get close to cutting all the way through, hit it with a cold chisel and it will split and slide right off.

 

[JohnJL]

The fast way to get them is to remove the rollers and then weld a bead all the way around the race. When it cools the race shrinks and it will just fall out.

My slide hammer did a great job pulling the roller cage out but no bueno on the races. What is the race material? Will a regular MIG steel work? Will 0.035 wire be about right? Do you run a bead around the perimeter then pluck it out as it cools?

Thanks!

 

[73FJ40]

I believe the idea is to draw a bead across the width of the race, parallel with the axle. When the bead cools down, it shrinks the race. If one bead isn't enough, do another. The cool down of the bead is what frees up the race.

The race is just a hardened steel, so any weld metal would work. The more heat, the more shrinkage.

 

[Pin_Head]

It doesn’t matter what you weld with. Just heating it enough to melt the metal will do the trick. Just run stringer beads around the circumference. The race is wide enough that you may need to run two beads

 

[Steamer]

I didn't have a puller so I threw this together faster than I could get to H.F. and back. (6mi. away) It pulled the whole bearings out in one piece. The oval hole allows it to pass through the bearing then turn flat. There's a pvc cap with a hole jammed inside to keep the slide from hitting the nut. Thought it'd be a one time use but it worked so good it's a keeper.