How to remove pinion bearing - help!

71cmro · 09-12-2009, 02:35:30 PM

Installing a new pinion bearing behind the yoke. What is the trick for getting the old bearing out?

mrdragster1970 · 09-12-2009, 03:05:18 PM

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I just changed gears myself. I'm not an expert, but I was told it must be pressed off.
Also don't be surprised if you ruin it. My crew chief told me they do get chewed up even if you do it perfect sometimes??

Good luck.

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big gear head · 09-12-2009, 03:05:26 PM

Remove the axles and differential. Remove the pinion. Knock out the old pinion seal and bearing race. Install the new race. put the new bearing in place and install the new seal. Put the pinion back in with a new crush spacer. Install the yoke with a new pinion nut and set the bearing preload. Put the rest of the rear end back together.

I strongly suggest that you replace both pinion bearings while you have it apart. Setting the preload with one used bearnig and one new one is not a good idea. NEVER repalce a bearing without replacing the race too.

71cmro · 09-12-2009, 03:56:17 PM

Are there any club members around the Dayton Ohio area that I could pay to help me do this?

Cardinal · 09-12-2009, 05:46:07 PM

Do you know how/changed gears before? If not, GET HELP! I can build almost anything but leave changing gears to a friend of mine who has done hundreds of gear changes.

He has a set of pinion bearings that he has modified from press on to slip on by using a wheel cylinder hone to open them up to a slip fit.

To get the bearing on, he freezes the pinion and bakes the bearing. That way the slip together without having to press them on. As for getting them off, you need a clamshell like this one to pull it off: http://www.nextag.com/BEARING-SEPARA...68/prices-html

mrdragster1970 · 09-12-2009, 06:22:02 PM

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That's the tool we used, it made it a much quicker job.
Maybe my stuff is different, Mark Williams Pro-Mod case & big style 9" ring/pinion.
It's a one piece bearing, there was no way to get in there to beat it off??
As mentioned, I try to do most things myself also, but the gear needs to be perfect, good luck.

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tom3 · 09-12-2009, 11:59:09 PM

I have taken them off by cutting the bearing with a dremel tool, cut the center part as much as you can, then crack it with a chisel. But you'll need a press to put the new one on and you really should check the gear contact afterwards. Even with the old shims the new bearing could be a little different and the rear gears won't last long if it's wrong.

big gear head · 09-13-2009, 12:17:35 AM

Tom, he's trying to get the outer pinion bearing out, not the inner one. Most of the time the outer pinion bearing is a light press fit and won't come out without driving the pinion out of the rear end. There is no way to get the bearing race out without removing the pinion gear first, which requires disassembly of the whole rear end. Both the inner and the outer pinion bearings need to be replaced at the same time, along with their races.

BondoSpecial · 09-13-2009, 12:19:15 AM

I do my own gears, its not a big deal once you have done it a couple times, the first install will take forever though. I have a $15 tool from ebay that has 2 long threaded studs with two bearing splitter haves, you tighten them together and they wedge behind the pinion bearing and then you press the pinion through the supported bearing with a shop press. I just use a $99 harbor freight press.

Edit ^^ outer race? woops

Z20AINT · 02-19-2010, 05:26:21 PM

Got a link to the Ebay bearing splitter?

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1977_TPI_Camaro

I do my own gears, its not a big deal once you have done it a couple times, the first install will take forever though. I have a $15 tool from ebay that has 2 long threaded studs with two bearing splitter haves, you tighten them together and they wedge behind the pinion bearing and then you press the pinion through the supported bearing with a shop press. I just use a $99 harbor freight press.

Edit ^^ outer race? woops