Who Can Press Bearings On/Off Axle Shafts?

[Jawa]

Does anyone have the tools to press wheel bearings on and off a set of D44 axle shafts? ...or can anyone recommend a shop in the Denver Metro that can do it for a fair price? Thank you!

[YELLAHEEP]

PM Terry (87xjco) and see if he can. I'm thinking he can now that he's working in a shop now, but he may still have his presses at home too.

[rockhounds4x4]

last set i pressed off broke my 12 ton press and maxed a mechanics 30 ton press. they are no fun.

might heat the bearings before pressing them it might expand a bit and make it easier.
I would warm the new set and cool the axle prior to pressing the new set also.

[in4aride]

wow..well dont those sound like loads of fun

[5-90]

Use a Dremel with a reinforced cut-off wheel to remove them - just don't nick the shaft.

You can heat the bearing gently and evenly using an electric hot plate (don't exceed 300*F or so!) and throw the shaft in a freezer before you press the new bearing on - you may not even need a press, if you do that (if you do need a press, it should not be much.)

Easiest to split the old bearing in two places, 180* apart. The first cut will spontaneouly split when you're about 2/3 of the way through the race due to tension. The second? Cut about the same distance or so through the race, and split it with a cold chisel that has the sharp edge rounded off on a grinding wheel (you don't need it - you're just forcing open a cut made with something else. You're rounding off the tip to help prevent damage to the shaft surface.)

[DutchVDub]

sounds like how i removed the unit bearings from stubshafts on vw's

[Jawa]

Thanks for the suggestions guys, but I don't think I want to mess with all that heating/cooling/cutting stuff... especially since I don't have a cold chisel, hot plate, or a freezer big enough to fit an axle shaft in. :dunno:

[Skully]

PM Terry (87xjco) and see if he can. I'm thinking he can now that he's working in a shop now, but he may still have his presses at home too.


He does have a press in his shop, and he by far would be the cheapest.

The only other alternative that I know of is Josh over @ Crawlertech 4x4 (http://www.crawlertech4x4.com/) off of 44th & I-25. He charges a shop rate by the hour. He charged me $70 to press out/in u-joints on my front axles and also cut off the collar and press on the new bearings on my rear 44 shafts. (That did not include the parts and before I met 87xjco)

Do not know of many guys in Aurora.............but there is bound to be someone?

[Jawa]

I spoke with Joshua this morning - $86 is what he'll charge. He's pretty sure axle bearings aren't my problem though...

[YELLAHEEP]

Post up on CO4x4 too. I imagine there's a few others out your way that could do it from that forum.

[Stang5lgt]

I spoke with Joshua this morning - $86 is what he'll charge. He's pretty sure axle bearings aren't my problem though...
You can get a press as Harbor Freight and do it yourself. Then start charging everyone else 86 bucks. LOL

[87xjco]

Heck I've been doing them for $20 a piece, doh!!

[Jawa]

Joshua is on the high end for everything - at least everything I've inquired about. He charges $300/axle to do gear work last time I checked. I'll shoot you a PM about the axle bearings.