A bearing splitter is one of those tools that you see in most professional mechanics toolbox but a DIY auto repair enthusiast needs to decide if they can make use of it and the cost involved in purchasing the tool. A bearing splitter works for a lot more than bearing work. They can be used to pull alternator and power steering pulleys, bushings, steering wheels, and of course bearings that a normal three-jaw puller can’t work on. We cover below how to use your bearing splitter below.
Start by unscrewing the large bolts on either side of the separator until you can slip it over the part you’re pulling. Be sure to center the puller over this part so you get an even pull. You can then tighten the bolts up to cinch the two parts of the puller together around the part you’re pulling. This gives you a tight fitting puller around the part and assures the puller won’t slip off. You can then attach the H-Beam section of the puller. Thread the two upright studs into the puller body; making sure the studs are fully threaded into the puller body to avoid thread damage in the puller.
Once the puller is mounted you can center the middle stud over the center shaft of the item your pulling and slowly tighten the stud down by hand until it touches the center shaft. Use a wrench or ratchet and socket to begin pulling the item off the shaft. If you have a lot of pressure on the item and it isn’t pulling off you can attempt to tap around the base of the part with a rubber or plastic mallet to help vibrate it loose. Alternate from tightening the puller and tapping around the base to get a stubborn pulley, bearing, or wheel off.
Once the bearing or pulley is removed you can loosen the H-beam section to remove the tool from the part and you’re read to service or replace with a new part.