Anyone replaced tranny bearings themselves?

I'm trying to replace the rear main shaft bearing on my W59.

It probably was fine, but it had some wear marks so I decided to replace. It is not fine now, so I am committed...

I pulled the retaining ring, but I have been unable to get it to budge.

I purchased a Harbor Freight bearing splitter/puller set, but that won't move it!

I have a shop press, but I am not picturing how I could fixture it to press it off.

I split the outer race to try pulling on the top flange - so not much of a bearing now.

It is pictured here just below the splines.

 

I have seen mechanics hit the race with a cold chisel and cause it to loosen somewhat. Always afraid of that because of metal chips flying off, need to wear googles and a face shield. You could grind the race with a die grinder and make it weak so it will crack. I have done this numerous times and it works. Need to be careful not to damage the trans shaft.

 

I've done that to the seal seats and ABS rings on the rear axle, but I don't think I can grind anywhere near the transmission without making a mess!

Also not sure if whacking it is a good idea - may mess up other bearings.

 

Agree, it would make a mess. Surely someone has a puller. Have you looked at OTC or SnapOn tools? Possibly a 3 jaw puller?? I would be hesitant to apply heat, afraid of softening gears or shafts.

 

summon gearcruncher.

edit: Kudos for going for it

 

So I broke out the impact to use on the puller to give it more "stink".

This thing is ON THERE! Busted out the top of the race!

I'm thinking you may be on to something with cutting a groove and cracking it. It seems brittle.

I'm also thinking I have no idea how I'm going to get a bearing back on it...

 

@gearcruncher

 

Woah,

I just found a good write-up on yotatech from a W56.

https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f116/w56-rebuild-thread-219038/

I think I'll be hitting the transmission shop tomorrow to have them do this before I make things worse....

Looks like you need a pretty specialized tool or to make one.

 

Oh shit...i had no idea trannys had bearing...it's bad enough that they dress up like woman, but bearings too...oh my god, what will Tacoma owners come up with next...

 

How do I dislike a post?

 

If at ALL possible, use a proper bearing puller which supports the whole bearing and provides an even lift.


Ideally, use in conjunction with a hydraulic puller. Using a cheap, two-jaw puller such as you see in the article linked to is a recipe for disaster!

 

The ones you pictured here are what I am using.

 

Good. Buy/rent a hydraulic ram and that'll come off like buttah.

 

I'm so sorry...the title just struck me funny and after that I couldn't help my self....

 

It's now in the hands of a very capable transmission shop that I know and trust!

 

I'm curious to hear how the transmission shop will remove it compared to what you already tried!

 

I started to worry more about putting it back on. Even if I could manage to get it off, there is NO WAY that puppy is going back on with the tools I have.

The FSM shows a SST that looks like it pulls on the 5th gear. You can't really press it back on or you can mess other things up.

I could have gone to the trouble of machining something that looks like the SST at work, or I can just pay someone to deal with it and be done ;-)

 

If it's not too much, why not have the transmission shop throw on the new one after they get the old one removed?

 

Oh yes, you can bet they are!!

 

You don't have an oven? That's all you need (Well, that and the Missus' second best oven mitts).