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Take a close look at the installers of the pit posse and George's tool. You will see the pit posse has a raised bit at the edge but not the middle like the George's one does.
With just the outer edge raised it is likely you will stress the second bearing if you seat it fully. Either remove that edge or after you get the bearing partly in reverse the installer so a flat edge is working against the bearing.
DON'T buy the Amazon setup that comes in a blue plastic box for about $39. At least that's my recommendation. Very cheaply made tools, rough threads, zero precision. I have one and used it to do both front bearings. It worked but was like trying to shoe a horse with tools from Dollar General. Never again. Before my next bearing job I'll get the George's rig. I really see the benefit of having a thrust bearing to aid removal and installation.
I have a wheel bearing tool that was like the pit posy, ate a couple wheel bearings in about 4000 miles. Ended up reversing dies for the final press. That corrected the bearing life.
While the stock bearing with C3 clearance has about 0.005" axial play, the bearing dies with a outside ridge that high between the inside and outside stress the bearing axially and kill it. The installer set I have was 0.025" I got tired of turning the dies around and machined them flat. No issues since.
Last edited by Max Headflow; Jan 23, 2023 at 09:55 AM.
My version (purchased in 2017) of George's Garage wheel bearing tool is also machined incorrectly. I just turn the dies around. Maybe the new version is machined correctly.
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