Rear axle bearing press using backing plate?

[repo]

I tried different 3 shops and they all want the whole vehicle so they can test fit the retainer, and 2 machine shops who said they couldn't do it. I finally found one shop that says they will do it for $50 a side BUT I asked them how they do it and they press them out using the backing plate instead of bolting to the bearing case and pressing out that way. Is that an ok way to do it? Everything I have seen says to bolt a tube to the bearing carrier.

 

[97 _SR5]

To be honest there is always more than 1 way to skin a cat... If they feel confident they can do the job done then I don't see why not.

Rafal

 

[KidVermicious]

Bolting to the bearing case? How does that work?

Here's how I did it. Chunk of axle with a couple pieces of 2x3 welded on. Bolt up the axle assembly, push the shaft out, easy peasy (once you remember to remove the snap ring ).

 

[repo]

Bolting to the bearing case? How does that work?

Here's how I did it. Chunk of axle with a couple pieces of 2x3 welded on. Bolt up the axle assembly, push the shaft out, easy peasy (once you remember to remove the snap ring ).

That's what I mean bolt to the back of it where the bolts come out the bearing case on the back, but I'm not sure how they plan to do it by pushing on the front of the backing plate because the lug nuts and everything is in the way and I dont want the plate getting bent.

 

[repo]

Also somebody said you need another tool to get the bearing out of the bearing case/backing plate after you press the shaft out because it's press fit on both of them. They said they tried once before and had to torch it out, and why the didn't want to do the job again.

 

[KidVermicious]

Oh, using just the backing plate. That could work if they supported it well I suppose.

You could use a bearing puller if you wanted. I just tapped the old bearing out with a hammer and drift from the backside. I wouldn't do that with a bearing I wanted to reuse, but that's not a concern here.