Rear Wheel Bearing Removal

[BGlynn19]

After pulling my rear axles on my 1974 FJ40 I can not figure out on how to replace the actual bearings. There appears to be a race holding the bearing in place but after doing some research it would appear that this is not a removable race and is built into the axle housing. Also, with the kit I ordered from SOR to complete this job, the bearings didn't come with races. How in the hell do you get the bearings out of the axle housing? Am I wrong and this is actually a race? If so any tips on how to get the race out (it is really really in there)? Any help would be much appreciated. Thanks guys!

 

[peesalot]

That collar presses on to retain bearing, you will need a press or a machine shop trip. IIRC you reuse the collars.

 

[1911]

IIRC, it is not a race, but a stop for the bearing. You either need a long enough slide hammer to pull the old bearings out, or if take out the 3rd member you can drive them out from the opposite side with a long rod. Don't forget to put new oil seals in while you're there.

 

[Pin_Head]

For the outer bearing race, it is pressed into the housing. You can get it out with a slide hammer or a puller, but the EZ way to get it out is to weld a bead on the inside of the race and when it cools ant the welded metal shrinks, the race will fall out.

 

[sggoat]

I would do the slide hammer option first--unless you are a really accomplished welder, you risk damaging the race seating area. Another option is ice cubes in the race and heat on the seating area--you might even be able to use a CO2 fire extinguisher to cool the race enough to get it to fall out(dry ice in the race might work too)--