Rear semi floating axle bearing replacement

GARYARCHER

MEMBER
1987 CHEVROLET TRUCK
5.7L
V8
4WD
MANUAL
250,000 MILES

I have been trying to remove the bearing race from the axle tube to no avail. Anyone out there ever actually accomplish this? I have tried the slide hammer thing, nothing, two jaw puller, nothing, tried to chisel it out, just ruined a new chisel, made a nut driven puller to try and extract it but just bent 3/8 inch plate steel. It is like they are welded in there. Can you replace the rollers in the existing race?
I am stumped. Does anyone who has actually accomplished this on an 87, 3/4 ton, Chevrolet truck have any suggestions? Any at all?

4 Replies

KEN L

MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
47,513 POSTS

Hey Garyarcher,

The only way to remove a stuck race is to grind it off, it is super hard metcal so a chisel with not touch it. Try pushing it back on to see if it is jammed somehow.

Here is a guide on how to remove the bearing

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-replace-a-rear-axle-bearing-and-seal-3-4-and-1

Please let us know happens so it will help others.

Best, Ken

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Saturday, November 26th, 2016 AT 7:50 PM

GARYARCHER

MEMBER
2 POSTS

Yeah, I have have tried everything but grinding it out as I have no idea what kind of wheel will cut that metal. Your how to video is of a full floating axle and not at all like a semi floating except they both have axles. I have watched all the videos none of which shows how to remove a bearing that will not move. The bottom line is you must build your own tools out of 1/2 AR plate steel and 7/16 grade 8 nuts and bolts to press/pull it out and use heat and then dry ice simultaneously. Grinding it or other methods of cutting it out risk damage to the axle housing creating a leaker for ever or complete replacement of the entire axle housing or having to have the damage re welded and machined to bearing tolerances again. Any way you cut it so to speak it is a difficult and miserable job. Very poor design on chevys part. Better off finding a good used full floating axle, rebuild it and swap out the semi floating axle.

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Sunday, November 27th, 2016 AT 6:19 AM

DOCHAGERTY

MECHANIC
9,601 POSTS

A bearing race in a blind hole? An acetylene torch with a not too big of a tip, heat the race in a single spot to shrink it, out it comes, just like on most Japanese motorcycle steering heads

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Monday, November 28th, 2016 AT 5:23 PM

KEN L