Pinion Bearing
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Pinion Bearing
I need to remove a Pinion bearing from an axle housing on a 1999 Mazda B-3000 pickup. The rear end is a Ford 7.5. The front pinion bearing appears to be pressed in. If so, is there a tool for removeing and installing this bearing while the axle housing is still mounted to the truck?
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From: People's Republic of CA
Yes, you can remove the pinion bearing with the axle in the truck. But you have to remove the diff carrier (case) and then drive out the pinion thru the rear of the axle housing. There is a special tool that you place over the pinion splines to protect them while you drive the pinion out. The front (outer) bearing can then be removed from the housing.
Disassembly is not a problem- but you have to have the knowledge and tools to set up the rear end (pinion bearing preload, depth, backlash) just right or you'll wipe your gears/ bearings out, and I've seen more than a few rears set up wrong that ate themselves. For that reason I have my rear end shop set up my rears for me. It's not a lot and if I do it wrong I just bought a new gear set or bearing set, etc. If they muff it up, it's on them. But a good rear end shop will do it right the first time since that's all they do. I wouldn't even have a general repair shop do it- only a rear end shop.
Rear internals (and auto trans rebuilds) are about the only things I don't mess with. But if you feel confident and have the experience and the right tools, have at it and don't let me dissuade you.
Disassembly is not a problem- but you have to have the knowledge and tools to set up the rear end (pinion bearing preload, depth, backlash) just right or you'll wipe your gears/ bearings out, and I've seen more than a few rears set up wrong that ate themselves. For that reason I have my rear end shop set up my rears for me. It's not a lot and if I do it wrong I just bought a new gear set or bearing set, etc. If they muff it up, it's on them. But a good rear end shop will do it right the first time since that's all they do. I wouldn't even have a general repair shop do it- only a rear end shop.
Rear internals (and auto trans rebuilds) are about the only things I don't mess with. But if you feel confident and have the experience and the right tools, have at it and don't let me dissuade you.
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Thanks,
I sucessfully dissasembled everything, except for removing the outer pinion bearing. I am not sure if it is pressed in or if there is a retainer that I don't see.
I removed a ring and pinion set up from a junk yard truck and began hitting the outer pinion bearing to punch it out, but it would not budge. I want to confirm that there is not a retainer in there before I try it on my truck.
I have some good instructions and the access to tools. I thought that I would give it a try.
I sucessfully dissasembled everything, except for removing the outer pinion bearing. I am not sure if it is pressed in or if there is a retainer that I don't see.
I removed a ring and pinion set up from a junk yard truck and began hitting the outer pinion bearing to punch it out, but it would not budge. I want to confirm that there is not a retainer in there before I try it on my truck.
I have some good instructions and the access to tools. I thought that I would give it a try.
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Joined: Jan 2004
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From: People's Republic of CA
Did you remove the pinion seal? After the seal is out and the pinion driven out the only things left in the housing should should be the bearing cone and race. Actually I would think the bearing should just fall out at this point. I don't believe there's any kind of bearing retainer. Remember the front bearing is a press (or more of an interference) fit on the pinion and the whole thing is held together with the spacer and pinion nut.
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Actually, the pinion seal was my problem. With all of the dirt and grime on the front of the axel housing I could not see the seal lip that extends over the front. I used a hammer and chizel to force the lip forward. The rest was easy.
Thanks for the advice.
Dave
Thanks for the advice.
Dave
