hub puller

[58prostreet]

A blue Point hub puller just got listed on ebay...item260164751122...anybody getting ready to pull rear hubs needs one....just a heads up

Bob

[billwillard]

Agin. Loosen hub nut 1/2 turn- Replace carter pin and drive until you hear drum pop loose. No need for puller

[Mr. Belvedere]

That only works if the car is mobile, unfortuneately, or if your brake problems are not serious enough to make the car unsafe to drive. Has any body tried one of those cheapo chinese knock off pullers? The used U.S. made ones really go for big bucks. I know there is no substitute for quality, but I won't need it to often especially if I do it Bills way from then on!

[Merle Coggins]

I always figure that you get what you pay for. Buying quality tools gives me piece of mind when I'm working on anything. You may be able to get away with a cheap knock-off, but if it fails during your project can you afford the additional down time to round up a new one? Or what if a cheap knock-off tool causes other damage due to it's failure? Is that added expense worth it?

I bought my puller from my Matco distributor. He had recently taken it off his truck because it had bounced around in there too long. (These pullers aren't used much anymore by modern vehicle mechanics) He made me a good deal on it, but had to bring it in the next week. It has worked well for me several times.

Just my opinion,

Merle

[Mr. Belvedere]

Yep I know, the cheapos are probably covered in lead paint anyway.

[Young Ed]

they might be all lead

[1948Skip]

I just got done pulling all the wheels on my P-15 to do a complete brake and cylinder job. I used a $139 puller on the left rear wheel and a $40 puller on the right wheel. The cheap puller pulled the drum and the expensive puller did not. I then put the cheap JC Whitney puller, which I bought 50 years ago, on the left drum and presto the drum came off and I am in the middle of cleaning and painting and restoring the brake system. So you see gentlemen, just because something is cheap does not mean it is junk. And the same applies to expensive things making them superior.

I like the JC Whitney puller because it is compact and puts the pull directly inline with the lug bolts.

By the way, these pullers are still available from JC Whitney.

Thoughts to ponder

Skip

[Normspeed]

I have one of the small JCW pullers. Worked fine the first brake job but the second time one of the 3 jaws broke. I rented one of the good ones locally for $10 or $20 for a day.

[Plymouthy Adams]

Last time I used a puller I had borrowed it from Lou Earle...and I was truly thankfrul to have it. I just bought a new model from the swap meet in a blown plastic case for 45.00 it appears to be very well made, and extremely heavy unit. As I really will never have a whole of need for this item I fugure with prober use this will serve me. I do think however if I were a business outfitting a shop with hired employees that I would INDEED purchase from a jobber like Snap-On or MAC simply for the fact that if it breaks, they can get one back into you rather quickly. Odds are if you let the tool do the work and not work the tool it will do the job adequately for a long time to come.

[Norm's Coupe]

I agree with Skip. I originally bought a puller from JC Whitney, worked ok for me. Then I found one of the larger pullers at an old garage going out of business for $20, so bought it. Gave the JC Whitney puller to my brother in law (same puller works on old Fords too), and he's still using it.

I also have a socket and ratchet set that I bought from JC Whitney back in 1965. It's the only socket & ratchet set I've used all those years. Still have the complete set. Looks and feels like it's just as good as Snap On or Matco. Mine is made by Industro. Looks better quality then the Craftsman sockets and ratchets. I've even taken a hammer and hit the ratchet lots of times to break something loose. Ratchet is no worse for wear. So........there's nothing wrong with some of the JC Whitney stuff.

By the way. My brother in law is also one who believes JC Whitney stuff is cheap and no good. However, he likes that puller I gave him. I didn't tell him where I bought it. Guess that's why it's good and works for him.

[Young Ed]

I imagine the quality of stuff that was available cheaply in the 60s was probably a lot better then the cheap stuff of today. As far as pullers go Dad has 2 of the snapon/bluepoint ones so I just use his

[Mr. Belvedere]

Just went to JCW and didn't a puller that looks any thing like whats shown in our shop manuals, you know the three leg puller with an aperatus on the end of the center drive screw that you beat away on with a mini sledge to break it loose. I did see a three leg puller there but the legs were not free to position just where you might need them and no pounding aperatus on the end to take out your frustrations on.

[oldmopar]

Below is a link to the snap on online catalog. The puller is $148.00 but the shipping is free

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/tools.asp?tool=all&Group_ID=2248&store=snapon-store

[captden29]

i got mine off the bay for $75 plus shipping. it is a heavy duty one a retired mechanic owned and was hardly used. when i lay on it with the sledge i am glad of the quality construction. i have heard stories of the cheaper ones falling apart under heavy load, but if the drum comes off easy enough any puller will work.usually when a drum is pulled after being on the car for 30, 40, or 50 years it takes a hell of a puller and alot of sledge hammering so you need the strongest tool. i suppose you just have to do this once to know. as far as a heavy duty puller not getting the drum off and then the cheap JCW doing it, i think the first attempt loosened it somewhat so the second attempt was easier. i have had to make more than one attempt with my puller to get a drum off. pulling these old drums takes patience ans a big hammer. dennis

[oldmopar]

I have a hub puller I purchased 4 or 5 years ago from a tool supply company I think the name is old forge or something like that paid about $100. I have it on about 4 cars one a 49 Dodge D30 I had to beat it hard with a 4 lb sledge many time before the drum popped but it has held up well

[Norm's Coupe]

Just went to JCW and didn't a puller that looks any thing like whats shown in our shop manuals, you know the three leg puller with an aperatus on the end of the center drive screw that you beat away on with a mini sledge to break it loose. I did see a three leg puller there but the legs were not free to position just where you might need them and no pounding aperatus on the end to take out your frustrations on.

I don't shop the online catalogs, the paper catalog and a phone call is quicker.

The puller from JCW is not listed as a drum puller. They have it listed as a "Universal Puller". They have two different ones, one has three legs and the other has 5. The 3 leg one is the one I bought originally and gave away. It runs about $30 in the paper catalog.

You can hit the JCW puller with a hammer too. Just put a breaker bar with a socket on it and hit away.

[busycoupe]

Just thought I'd add my 2 cents worth: Last April I bought my 48 business coupe. It hadn't been run for a few years so of course it needed all of the brakes replaced. I bought a universal puller from ebay. The guys address is

http://stores.ebay.com/MPP-TOOLS

The puller was only $48. It came in a nice plastic carrying case. It is probably made in China, but it still works fine.

My only complaint is that the threads on the post were full of paint, and the thread in the center piece was plated. I didn't have a tap and die to chase the threads, so I spent several hours, first with a wire brush, then cranking the post in and out to clear the threads. Once the threads were clear, it pulled the wheels in minutes.

[Mr. Belvedere]

Yep I see that same puller is still on the bay! Hope you wore a mask for all that led paint scaping off the threads! (J/K)

[bob_amos]

The puller Bob is refering to is a Snap-On tools item. The very best you can buy. I worked for Chrysler for 20 years and this Snap-On tool beat the factory tool. I have owned the same one since the late 60's. Being a Snap-On tool it carries a lifetime, and I do mean lifetime, guarantee. By the way, Blue Point is a Snap-On tool name. The present bid of $60 is way too low for this tool.

[Plymouthy Adams]

back in the day when I was a mechanic and the Snap-On jobbered their stuff shop to shop..Snap-On is warrented and the Blue Point will not be warrented. Number of mechanics were kinda put out about that..I have a set of Bue Point easy outs with drill guides..pure junk...!!! I have no faith in their strength to do a job and never use them...these taught me how to blow a hole with a torch..

[bob_amos]

That was true on some points. But, drill bits and easy outs were really not suppose to be warranteed. Some dealer chose to replace them as a good will thing. I had a set of expensive drill bits and easy outs. When they broke I always got them replaced. Then the dealer left and a new guy took over. He would not replace them. My present dealer now will. So that is a dealer to dealer thing. The wrenches and heavy equipment I have never had a problem with. On my wheel puller, the ears on the part that you pound on have broken twice over the years and have been replaced with absolutely no trouble. Even once by the same guy that would not replace the bits and easy outs. I do know from 20 years at Chrysler Dealerships that the Miller Tools puller was not up to the beating the Snap-On tool was. In most dealerships that had this tool either the dealer had the Snap-On or the mechanic that did the work had one. That is why I had mine. And still do. When I use this one I know that I am not going to have to be conserned with the tool causing harm to myself. I have seen the factory, Miller Tools as well as the cheaper after market tool, fly apart and just choose not to be in that position of dodging the tools as they take flight.

[Plymouthy Adams]

Glad you got some service, I just never had the warm friendly service from the Snap-On dealers..(nor did the other guys)..getting a ratchet fixed was a two month ordeal..sorry I cannot be without my tools that long..now the Cornwell brand..never a fuss, (sad part there is where are they now) and even with Craftsman..walk in and walk out with an exchange..Snap-On guy berated everyone with abuse of the product and how it should not be fixed because we don't know how to use the tool..I can assure you the easy outs were the last product I bought from them..so yes I learned quick in the business that Blue Point was the EXPENDABLE line of thier products.

[Don Coatney]

I have on occasion by-passed the obnoxious tool distributors and gone directly to Snap-on and Mac for broken tool replacements. I also have a CORNWELL double flaring tool that I bought years ago and work much better than the modern Ridgid counterparts. I have a Snap-on easy out set that I have used several times with success. Better than most in my opinion.

[Plymouthy Adams]

Don..that is the type easy out set I have..I also have tried to deal with Snap-On direct only to have been told all transactions will be handled through the assigned jobber for your area as they are assigned and protected regions..even for service and repair..maybe its a southern thing...

[bob_amos]

Tim, Realy? You had trouble with Snap-On replacing a tool? Sorry to hear that. Ya know. Some of the dealers can be real think headed. I have had the same trouble with the Mac Tool guy that visits my shop. Our Cornwall tool guy never comes in.. But Cornwall has always been like that. They have such bad luck with their guys.