i am installing new gears and lockers. what is the best way to pull and put on the bearings on the end of the carrier. what tool should be used. since it probably will take a few tries, i want to do the least amount of damage to the new bearings as possible.

You'll need a big bearing splitter and a puller to pull it up. I put the splitter under the carrier bearing and use a regular puller on the spliter to pull the bearing off.

What I would do is take your old carrier bearings, use a dremel to open the ID up until it is a slip fit on the carrier, this way you can set the gears up without pressing the new bearing on and off, then when you get it right press the new bearing on for good.

CJ

Like CJ said use a bearing splitter but use a quality one. I made the mistake of buying one from Harbor Freight which will get them off but will damage the bearing. Matco makes one that is higher quality. If you have access to a press it will be easier to install/remove.

Definatly make some set-up bearings. It will save you a lot of time and frustation.

Pulling new bearings each time is a pain and you will usually damage some of the shims each time you put the splitter on.

Ditto on what they said. The HF splitter sucks. and I just about destroyed the carrier bearings trying to pull them off I certainly wouldn't want to do that to my new bearings. Using the old bearings as setup bearings.

:beer:

Here is what CJ is talking about. Its the most versitle route. You could get a special 2 jaw carrier bearing puller which is also sold on that site but I have seen some carriers that dont have the recesses to accept them.

http://www.cartools.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=001&Product_Code=pubpOTC1123&Category_Code=BP

Matt H, I got that part, but where do you get the puller that hooks to it? Also I have a 12ton press, how would I use that splitter with the press?

JnJ,
Just get a large 2 jaw puller from a parts store. you dont need the threaded puller that goes with the bearing splitter. However if you have a press:) just attach the splitter to the bearing/carrier, put the carrier under your steel press plates on the press and the splitter on top of them and press against the carrier. you need to get a peice of steel small enough to fit inside the bearing wher the axle shaft goes thru, but big eough to catch on the carrier. I found a upper front shock bushing washer works good on most if its a thick one. :)

Matt

can you toss me a link directly to the page that shows a presser/puller. i like the splitter.

This is the puller that goes with the splitter http://www.cartools.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=001&Product_Code=pubpOTC927&Category_Code=BP
but all you need is a nice 6" or larger 2 jaw puller. The press that JnJ is talking about is a 12 ton press built into its own frame. You can pick those up pretty cheap at Harbor Freight.

Matt

I use the harbor frieght bearing seperator and have had no problems with it. I use it on a home made 6 ton press and it worked perfectly, no damage to the bearings at all.