Dana 30/60/70 Carrier & Pinion Bearing Puller, 3 Clamshells

Anyone who has tried to get a carrier bearing off a Dana 60 with a two-jaw gear puller knows how it goes: the jaws slip off the cage, the cage tears, and you end up grinding the inner race off and hoping you did not nick the carrier hub. This clamshell puller is built for that exact job on Dana 30, 40, 60 and 70 axles and the Ford 10.25 inch rear. It also handles pinion bearings, which is what you need when you are re-shimming pinion depth on a gear swap.

What a clamshell puller does on a differential

Carrier and pinion bearings in these axles are pressed on hard, and there is very little behind the inner race to grab. A clamshell is a split collar machined to fit behind the bearing cone. Once it is closed around the bearing and captured by the retaining ring, the pulling force goes through the whole race instead of two thin jaw tips. The puller body then sits over a plug on the carrier or pinion, and the center bolt draws the bearing straight off. Straight and even is the point: it keeps the bearing journal and the pinion head seating surface clean, and a bearing that is still good can come off reusable for a set-up bearing.

Signs you need it on the bench

• You are changing gear ratio and need to move the inner pinion bearing to the new pinion, or swap the depth shim under it
• Carrier bearings are noisy or pitted and have to come off the case for new ones
• A locker or limited-slip install means moving carrier bearings to a new case
• You need set-up bearings: lightly honed bearings that slide on and off during pattern checks
• Previous attempts with a jaw puller have started tearing the bearing cage

Confirm the job before you buy

Make sure you are actually into bearing work. A whine that changes between drive and coast usually means gear set-up or pinion bearings, while a steady rumble in turns often points at carrier bearings. Our carrier bearing noise guide and backlash and pinion depth set-up guide explain what has to come apart for each case.

Fitment and what is in the box

The tool's maker lists it for Dana 30, 40, 60 and 70 carrier and pinion bearings and the Ford 10.25 inch rear; our listing also covers Dana 50 and 80, but the maker's own pages are not consistent on those two, so measure your bearing OD and compare it to the clamshell sizes before you count on it for a Dana 50 or 80. The maker's Q&A says it also works on a Ford 8.8, but does not confirm GM 12-bolt or Dana 44 fitment; for Dana 44 and Ford 8.8 carrier bearings we stock a clamshell puller sized for those axles, and for many GM and Ford side bearings a jaw-style OTC 4520 side bearing puller set is the better fit.

• Main puller body, plug, center bolt and retaining ring
• Three clamshells: two at about 4.45 in. and one at about 5.2 in.
• Lower and upper adjuster rings to match the bearing height
• A stand that holds the assembly upright for set-up
• 45 steel construction, about 8.9 x 5 x 11 in., roughly 32 lb

More differential tools are in our tools section.

Using it

• Clean the carrier or pinion so the plug sits flat on the end, not on a burr.
• Drop the body over the plug and set the lower and upper adjuster rings so the clamshell lines up with the back of the bearing cone.
• Pick the clamshell that wraps the bearing fully, close it and snug the retaining ring so it cannot open under load.
• Oil the center bolt threads and run it with a 1/2 in. impact or a long breaker bar. Keep the assembly square; if it starts to cock, stop and reset the rings.
• Once the bearing is off, check the journal for scoring before pressing a new bearing on. A race and seal driver set handles the races, and a Dana 30 master bearing kit covers the rest of a front axle rebuild.
• Set preload, backlash and pattern to the axle's spec, and refill with the gear oil the axle calls for, usually 75W-90.

Will this pull Dana 44 carrier bearings?

Dana 44 is not on the tool maker's confirmed list. Measure the bearing and compare it to the clamshells, or use our clamshell puller sized for Dana 44 and Ford 8.8 bearings.

Can I reuse a bearing after pulling it with this?

Often yes. Because the clamshell loads the inner race evenly instead of pulling on the cage, a healthy bearing usually comes off undamaged. Inspect it for pitting and roughness before reusing it.

Does it work on pinion bearings as well as carrier bearings?

Yes. It is designed for both. On a gear swap it is used to remove the inner pinion bearing so the depth shim can be changed or the bearing moved to a new pinion.

Do I need an impact wrench?

An impact on the center bolt is the quickest way and the tool is built for it. A long breaker bar works on lighter bearings. Oil the threads either way.

Does it fit GM 10-bolt or 12-bolt bearings?

The tool maker does not confirm GM 10-bolt or 12-bolt fitment. For GM side bearings a jaw-style side bearing puller with step plate adapters is usually the safer choice.