The manual states that a slide hammer is required to remove the axle shaft once the backing plate is unbolted, the bearing collar is destroyed in order to remove it, and a special tool is required to remove and reinstall the bearing. Is all this written in stone? Has a method been devised to perform any of these operations without the special tools, and can the bearing collar be removed without damaging it?

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I've been calling it as i see it for my entire life and that's not about to change. Take it or leave it.

I heard it can be done, but the wheel bearings I recently got for mine came with new collars.

Hey... just checked the package, new bearing collars included. Yay!

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I've been calling it as i see it for my entire life and that's not about to change. Take it or leave it.

One more thing, when the bearing finally seizes, which usually gets damaged first, the axle shaft or the axle tube? And how can the tube be repaired? Im reasonably confident that if an axle shaft isnt available, the old one can be spray welded and machined, but Im not sure about the axle tube...

_________________
I've been calling it as i see it for my entire life and that's not about to change. Take it or leave it.