Threaded #56: Reviewing 9 expanding bearing removal tools

Dave Rome

When it comes to removing cartridge bearings (aka sealed bearings), the humble punch and hammer may get the job done, but there are better options for smooth removal that reduce the risk of them falling apart or damaging the component they sit within.

The topic of smoothly removing cartridge bearings is a big one, and one I’ve covered previously. As was detailed before, there are many paths to tackle bearing removal, and no one method or tool is correct for all situations.

It’s now been two years since I covered this topic in Threaded and there’s been a handful of new tool entrants into the space. So, with that, I thought it was time to revisit the topic of expanding bearing pullers suited to hub and frame pivot bearings (and sometimes more), showing you what options exist, how they work, and providing thoughts on how well they work.

A quick refresher

I won’t rehash my guide to smoothly removing cartridge bearings, but one increasingly common demand in modern bicycles is to remove a bearing with limited access behind it. Sometimes this limited access is due to the bearing having a preload spacer jammed up behind it, something commonly found in many freehub bodies, hubs, and main suspension pivots. Other times the bearing may be pressed up against a seat without much access from behind, common in a full suspension frame.

On the left (first) photo we have a bearing blocked by a preload spacer, the real proving case and special purpose for most of the tools covered here. Meanwhile, on the right (second) we have a bearing with a void behind, which all the extractors covered below can manage, too.

In these cases, it can be difficult, or even impossible, to employ the traditional method of a punch and hammer. Plus, that punch requires you to knock the bearing out edge by edge, risking dismantling the bearing and also potentially ovalizing or scouring the press-fit surface it sits within. The best method is to get that bearing out as straight as it first went in.

Threaded #6: Obsessed with smoothly removing cartridge bearingsWhere keeping it square is the game.Escape CollectiveDave Rome

It’s worth noting that some bearings may seem blind, but are in fact removed along with the axle they capture. Put simply, the expanding bearing tools covered here are hugely valuable for many bearing servicing applications, but not all. In fact, there is no kit here that covers every bearing removal situation across all bikes, and rather its combination of experience and a handful of different tools that tick that box. Once again, I’ll repeat, read my feature above about smoothly removing bearings if this is news to you.

Also, as I’ve covered before, this type of tool is capable of removing most cartridge bearings found in hubs and full suspension frames. However, I typically only use such expanding-type pullers when simpler and more efficient tools aren’t right for the task. Namely, there are press-based tools that can push bearings out from the backside with impressive efficiency, the Enduro BRT-051 (included in the new Linear press kit) being a prime example of that. Also, there are some clever options, such as Alt-Alt’s offset drift tool that I absolutely love and have covered previously.

Bearing servicing across a multitude of bikes requires a multitude of tools and techniques.

Still, while there may be faster methods, the tools covered in this review can perform plenty of common bearing removal tasks, and for that, they’re an excellent place to start when building out capabilities to do bearing overhauls.

Just a quick note before I go any further. Tools for bottom bracket bearings and cups are typically a separate category to what’s covered here. Again, you’ll find information about this in my original smoothly removing bearings feature.

Rules of engagement

These expanding tools each have their own nuances, but many work in similar ways with similar limitations.

Top of that list is that if the tool works without a hammer or slide hammer, then it’s a thread-based puller. And if it’s pulling the bearing out, it needs a stable surface to push against. That surface needs to be flat and even, and while that’s a common trait in most hub designs, it’s not always the case for full suspension frame bearings.

If you need a blind bearing puller, but don’t have a flat surface around the bearing to push against, then it may be possible to use a cut-away puller cup that just contacts whatever flat surface is available – currently, most of these solutions are designed and 3D-printed as bespoke solutions by the end user.

Some examples of cut-away puller cups. Except for Enduro, most are typically 3D-printed.

For most mechanics, not having a flat surface to push against means the easiest answer is to use a slide hammer. Some of the tools covered here can be used as a puller or with a slide hammer, and so have more options than others. For example, one of the tools can be adapted for use as a puller, as a slide hammer, or as expanders that you then knock out with a punch.

Either way, if you’re reading this and feeling lost, then please stop, and go read my guide to smoothly pulling bearings. You’ll also find a guide to sizing bearings, and a full guide to installing them. The rest of this article will then make sense.

Threaded is an ongoing series created for professional mechanics and enthusiast home mechanics in search of continuous improvement, or at least ways to bring more efficiency, precision, or joy to the work.

It’s photographed, written, and created exclusively by me, Dave Rome. With approximately 20 years of experience on the tools, and more than a decade of documenting other mechanics' work, I aim to share my passion for finding quality tools and tips on how best to use them.

You wouldn’t expect to give away your professional experience for free, and that’s why this article is paywalled. It's merely through the support of our members (readers) that this content exists.

Below that paywall, you’ll find detailed and real reviews of bearing removal tools from Abbey Bike Tools, Lebycle, Alt-Alt, Pro Bearing Tools, Enduro Bearings, and more.

Professional mechanics are the lifeblood of the bike industry. If your career is fixing bikes, exclusive membership rates are available.

Learn more

How to use an expanding puller

A video showing some common use examples, how the tools work, and how to use them.

Each tool has its own specific process, but the general theme is consistent:

1. Select the right size tool that matches the inner diameter, and sometimes width, of the bearing.
2. Select the right puller cup that’s marginally larger than the outer diameter of the bearing. Again, make sure there is a flat and even surface to push against.
3. Expand the tool into the inner race of the bearings, ensuring it’s located squarely, just behind the race and not locked against whatever is beyond the bearing. This can often be felt with tools that offer a catch lip.
4. Install the puller cup to rest against the surrounding area of the bearing. Once again, ensure it’s contacting a uniform, flat, and structurally sound area.
5. Tighten the tool against the receiving puller cup.
6. Marvel at modern engineering and scoff at those using a punch.

The best expanding bearing removal tools – thread-based

The following tools all feature a threaded system that acts against a puller cup for smooth and controlled bearing removal. To repeat, these tools require a flat surface that surrounds the bearing to push against.

Just a note on the pricing. I’ve listed recommended retail or equivalent retail purchase prices. Most of the tools here, with clear exception of the AliExpress options, are available to professionals at reduced trade pricing.

This post is for subscribers only

Become a member to get access to all content

Subscribe now