I'm hoping that someone can help me out with this....I've got a 91 4runner with a leaky axle seal on the right side. While I had it out I was going to go ahead and replace the bearings, but I'm confused on the retainer ring. Some articles don't really mention it as if it comes off when you press the bearing out and other articles say you have to cut it off and buy a new one. Please clear this up for me...I wanted to try and start on this in the next two days. Thanks!!

 

I've done mine quite a few times.

My experience is just cutting it off and replace it. They aren't meant to be reused. it's ok to do but it's better to use a new one that hasn't been stressed yet by being installed.

I never tried to press it off since mine has two on each axle, one for the bearing and one in front of the ABS tone ring that the seal lips up onto. so I usually just cut off the first one, work the abs tone ring off and reuse it, cut off the inner retainer and then press the bearing off. but in your case you should be able to press it off since you only have one. make sure you remove the snap ring first though.

 

thanks....see that's another thing that I've had folks tell me to use a new snap ring also...by the way, how did you go about cutting off the retainer ring Thanks again

 

snap rings are cheap so it's a good idea to use a new one too.

I use an angle grinder to grind a flat on the retainer. I grind almost all the way through it but not quite. BE VERY CAREFUL not to slip and hit the axle with the grinder. Then take a sharp cold chisel and give it a couple good pops on the thinnest part of the flat and it should break right through and the retainer will pop loose. Let me see if I can find a pic for you and I'll post back if I do.

 

here ya go. I stretched this one out to use it for something else to the "split" is alot wider than it will be on one you just cut off. in fact, if you get it thin enough, it should just breakat the thinnest part of the flat and slip right off.

 

Great!...thanks