Needle Bearing - Yes, Replace It (ECGS)

I had the same thing happen when installing mine. I was square against the back of the bearing race and had to clearance the tool a little as well. I finally put a pry bar through the front yoke so it would stop rotating and the bearing came right out. Checked inside after removing it and no gouging.

 

Hey, I see you got it out already, but yeah, I don't remember my front driveshaft spinning at all, maybe because I only had the driver front wheel off the ground, not the passenger wheel?

 

Appreciate the follow up.

When I tried inserting the tool the first time, it looked like there was enough space for the slight radius on the back side of the tool to fit and allow the puller to sit upright. But no, had to break out the grinder. Just hit the backside of each side of the tool, followed the radius and kept it even. Knocked the edges down with a file then cleaned it off with alcohol to make sure no swarf was on it. Then it popped right in. Held it uprihht with a flathead screwdriver while I threaded in the rod.

I wiggled it all around once the all thread seemed to bottom out and snug up. Was working in the dark with a headlamp, so it was awkward trying to get the plate settled up even and square.

I did jam a wrench into the yoke after the third time resetting it. I was then spinning the all thread and the puller, not pulling the needle bearing free.

Finally got it completely squared up and it pulled the needle bearing right out. Have to wait till the morning to fill the diff and test drive, but I think this was the source of my front end intermittent vibration and sub-25mph front end noise. The needle bearing looks like it was worn down, the bearing surface on the cv shaft had a nice wear mark where the spacers between the needles looks like its been making contact.