OTC 7497A Rear Axle Bearing Puller, 1-3/8 to 2-7/8 in Tubes

The OTC 7497A is a screw-draw rear axle bearing puller for semi-floating rear axles. Once the axle shaft is out, the puller head goes into the axle tube behind the bearing, the cross bar spans the tube end, and turning the nut draws the bearing and seal straight out of the housing.

It covers bearing bores from a 1-3/8 inch minimum up to a 2-7/8 inch maximum axle tube I.D., which takes in most domestic and import car and light-truck semi-float rear ends where the axle is retained by C-clips or a retainer plate. That is the job you face when a rear wheel bearing starts to growl or the axle seal is leaking gear oil onto the brakes.

On the truck: pull the cover, remove the pinion shaft and C-clip (or the retainer bolts), slide the axle out, then set the 7497A behind the bearing and tighten the nut until the bearing comes free. Pulling it this way keeps the load centered so the bore is not scored, which a punch or slide hammer often does. Drive the new bearing and seal in with a matched driver.

Compact steel tool, 12.8 oz, about 6-1/4 inches long. Check your axle tube I.D. against the 1-3/8 to 2-7/8 inch range before ordering.