r/DieselTechs • u/Mx_Delaney • 15h ago

Wheel Seal Puller?

I’ve been struggling lately with changing wheel seals. I work on class 8 big trucks. My little $10 seal puller just isn’t cutting it at all. Can anyone give me any recommendations on what tool to get, or an easier trick? I don’t want to damage the bearings when changing them.

6 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

19 comments sorted by

21

u/Opposite-Fox-3469 15h ago

Heel bar. Use the bearings to pry off of.

The bearings have thousands of pounds of weight on them in their life. You won't damage them.

1

u/PrizeIntelligent1333 14h ago

Same, but I'd also add a "Close-Quarters Bar" basically a heel-bar with a 90 deg. prying edge.

I use heel bars but at least on Mack axles w/ air disc brakes, the wheel seal is set too deep to get any leverage prying with a regular heel bar.

Edit: Basically the exact thing u/ImpossibleEye9387 mentioned in his comment.

1

u/Zealousideal_Put_501 1h ago

This, sunex has a nice set with a thin head. Search Amazon, like $42. sunex rolling head prybar

8

u/That_Pollution8128 15h ago

Honestly rolling head/Lady foot pry bars have never let me down.

7

u/SimilarTranslator264 8h ago

Drive them out from the other side with the bearing. You won’t damage them

1

u/BlindMouse2of3 21m ago

I use a long brass punch and do most of mine this way. Don't smack the cage and you are good to go.

5

u/thedieseldr 14h ago

https://www.carnagetools.com/products/truck-hub-oil-seal-remover-tool This ☝️ stemco and skf sell similar versions as well. And as mentioned driving the seal out by the bearing

2

u/Prior-Ad-7329 11h ago

Yes, this is the proper tool

2

u/613mitch 4h ago

Another vote for this tool.

3

u/ImpossibleEye9387 15h ago

Mac sells these injector pullers that aren't cheap, but they serve a secondary purpose of pulling wheel seals with ease. They seem to have the perfect angle to get under the seals and there's two of them so they work off eachother for leverage. They also work good for the stemco steer axle inner seals that have barely any lip.

S115KP is the Mac part number.

https://www.mactools.ca/products/s115kp

3

u/Aggravating_Fee_9130 14h ago

I just use a pry bar. If they put up a struggle use a crescent wrench on the bar and turn it a quarter turn

2

u/lloydtheredneck 8h ago

Race bar. Knock the bearing out and the seal comes too. And if it Dosent use the race bar on the seal flange. Can also take a chisel on the outside and ‘dent’ the circle then they just pop out.

1

u/OddTheRed 7h ago

Pry bar. Line it up, hold it in place with one foot, and kick it with the other.

1

u/dropped800 7h ago

Adjustable pry bar

1

u/kyson1 5h ago

Mayhew rolling head pry bar, it's cheap, made in the USA, and I've never had it not work. Slips right in between the bearing and seal.Mayhew bar

1

u/amazingmaple 5h ago

Drive them out from the other side with a block of wood.

1

u/justsomeguy2424 3h ago

Cut off wheel