OTC 6575 Hub Grappler Alternatives?

[KBATN]

First of all i'm assuming this this will work on a 2500hd?

So, is there another company that make something like this that isn't harbor freight quality? I found pullers that push on your axle shaft, but not sure how I like putting the stress on the shaft?

Thanks

 

[CobraRed]

Pick up an Astro 78830 + a 78825 and you have a hub grappler set that also pulls discs and drums for like less than half the OTC's

 

[signcrafter]

Pick up an Astro 78830 + a 78825 and you have a hub grappler set that also pulls discs and drums for like less than half the OTC's

I picked up the astro hub puller last week and used it Sunday and it worked great. Very well built. So I decided to order the bearing adapter kit and that will be here today. So for 185 bucks or so you have a hub grappler kit that I would say is every bit as good.

 

[gatlibs]

Hub Shark by Ken-Tool. It is also made in U.S.A.

 

[signcrafter]

The 78825 master bearing kit just showed up on my door step. This thing is crazy heavy. Which is a good thing when it comes to stuff like this. Will go great with my astro hub puller. Should do everything the hub grappler can for about 1/3 of the price.

 

[MrNatural]

Astro Tools seem like a really good company. Just a shame that they are not available from the UK.

 

[Tallpilot]

Astro Tools seem like a really good company. Just a shame that they are not available from the UK.

Got some storage space? You could set up a distributorship. Be the first importer when Boris signs a free trade agreement with the States.

 

[_brian_]

I just ordered this exact combo for the stated purpose of this thread.

Pick up an Astro 78830 + a 78825 and you have a hub grappler set that also pulls discs and drums for like less than half the OTC's

 

[2ndGearRubber]

That will probably work. The ideal tool for removing that hub, is the "hub shocker", and a sledge. The astro should be able to pull it, if you live outside the rust belt. I've had my OTC start to visually bend trying to pull a hub. Hub shocker hasn't failed me yet, it's a godsend in the rust belt.

 

[WittHay]

For a GMC 8 bolt 4WD hub the hub shocker is probably the best. They come out easier than the Dodges.

OTC makes a kit for the Dodges, 1 tool is a variation of the old socket or extension against the axle housing and using power steering to push out the hub. The other puller has a second set of holes that you use if the bearing separates

If the puller starts to bend and the bearing doesn't come apart, I have wedged in really large cold chisels between the housings and axle shafts to push out the hub

 

[humpty]

I have the older Hub Tamer Elite, it has worked great when I have needed it. I would love to get the Tamer to Grappler upgrade kit 6575-2 but at $200 it doesn't make sense. Especially when I do not do bearing and hubs very often.
If I could find the Grappler Application guide in PDF I could probably find Astro parts to do the same thing at 1/2 the price. Which is appealing despite being an OTC fanboy.

humpty

 

[sberry]

Do you guys have a torch?

 

[Astro_Pneumatic_Tools]

I've had my OTC start to visually bend trying to pull a hub.

You said it, not me

 

[2ndGearRubber]

It was actually the arms.


OTC quality has been declining, and the customer service always sucked. I hope you guys keep up the good work; quality tools for less than OTC. I'd love to see them go out of business.

 

[Astro_Pneumatic_Tools]

It was actually the arms.

The arms on our puller are actually rated for more tons than our T-bar w/ 7/8" inch of foot engagement.

0 tons vs 9 tons of force shown, the arms want to angle slightly to take up any slack in the t-bar to arm fitment, but then bend minimally enough that it couldn't be measured.

 

[MattT]

You said it, not me

Why did you stop at 8 tons? A 7/8" Grade 8 is probably good for at least twice that......................

 

[Astro_Pneumatic_Tools]

Why did you stop at 8 tons? A 7/8" Grade 8 is probably good for at least twice that......................

You're correct, the bolt's max clamping load is closer to 22 tons. But we don't choose 7/8" GR8 coarse mainly for clamping capacity, it's for its impact wrench durability vs other options.

And we didn't stop at 8 tons, 8 tons is just the level in which inches of deflection (what we're calling bend during use) equaled the comparable's deflection at its ultimate failure point (which was at 4.5 tons). Albeit our T-bar did not permanently deform at this 8 ton level.

 

[toolenthusiast]

Chris, I’ve seen the recommendation to combine kit 78825 + 78830 a handful of times now. Is this the design intent? Or is this “off-label” usage? If the two kits are supposed to be combined, why don’t you make one part number and call it the Hub Shamer or something? Lol

 

[Astro_Pneumatic_Tools]

It's a very fortunate coincidence, and a convenience for those who know what they need.

A kit all as one, with a few other extras and upgrades, we make exclusively for another brand already.

 

[_brian_]

As I mentioned above, I recently ordered the Astro combination mentioned here. Thus far, I am happy and pleased with the decision to purchase. I also own the c-clamp ball joint press which I have used for a while now. These two sets appear as the same level of quality and I am expecting the same level of satisfaction.

 

[HomeTheaterMan]

A kit all as one, with a few other extras and upgrades, we make exclusively for another brand already.

Hate to bring this thread back from the dead, but does anyone know which all in one kit this is?

 

[_brian_]

Hate to bring this thread back from the dead, but does anyone know which all in one kit this is?

I am not sure if this is the one that Chris @ Astro means, but the Ken-Tool 7326 (someone else also mentioned this above) might meet that description. I personally own the two kits named in this thread, both the Astro kits, and I could not be happier.... especially given the price to the competitive products including OTC. Better product, better price. Just my opinion.

I can see a reason to have them both as a kit together and separate. This stuff is expensive, especially for a home / DIY person. I have the 78825 bearing kit, but only used it for one vehicle so far, which is why I bought it. The 78830 hub/drum/rotor pulling kit I have used numerous times. I can make a strong case that I could have rented the 78825 or just bought a new assembly with the bearing in it and still have in my ownership the 78830 which is used far more often.

 

[HomeTheaterMan]

I am not sure if this is the one that Chris @ Astro means, but the Ken-Tool 7326 (someone else also mentioned this above) might meet that description. I personally own the two kits named in this thread, both the Astro kits, and I could not be happier.... especially given the price to the competitive products including OTC. Better product, better price. Just my opinion.

I can see a reason to have them both as a kit together and separate. This stuff is expensive, especially for a home / DIY person. I have the 78825 bearing kit, but only used it for one vehicle so far, which is why I bought it. The 78830 hub/drum/rotor pulling kit I have used numerous times. I can make a strong case that I could have rented the 78825 or just bought a new assembly with the bearing in it and still have in my ownership the 78830 which is used far more often.

Thanks for the advice. It looks like it would be far cheaper to piece together the two Astro kits over the Ken Tools. I was just thinking maybe a complete kit would be cheaper, but that doesn't seem to be the case.

It sounds like you really like the 78830 kit. I was debating on if I really needed it, or if I should just buy the 78825 kit and use a slide hammer for removal of the hubs. I keep going back and forth on if it would be worth it for me to get the 78830 kit. In your opinion is it worth the cost?

 

[KZOC]

I needed to replace a rear bearing on a Honda CRV. Dealer wanted $600+ to get it done, and I don't know any competent Honda shops here in Austin.

I ordered a bearing and the 78825, rented a slide puller, and got it done for under $200 all in. No real excuse not to at least try to do it yourself and save a bunch of money!

 

[_brian_]

Thanks for the advice. It looks like it would be far cheaper to piece together the two Astro kits over the Ken Tools. I was just thinking maybe a complete kit would be cheaper, but that doesn't seem to be the case.

It sounds like you really like the 78830 kit. I was debating on if I really needed it, or if I should just buy the 78825 kit and use a slide hammer for removal of the hubs. I keep going back and forth on if it would be worth it for me to get the 78830 kit. In your opinion is it worth the cost?

In my opinion, given what I do and use it for, it is well worth it. I have used it on a few rotors and many drums. I can go without this tool for most hubs and rotors, but it is the drums where it has been most useful in time savings.

For hubs I can often use one of the regular pullers in my box. On rotors, a dead blow hammer will often work, I just don't like hitting a rotor I plan on reusing. The options are more limited on drums that are stuck, even on modern vehicles where the drum is the parking brake inside with the rotor brake outside.

I hope that helps, I think an explanation of why I have my opinion should put in perspective.

 

[The Critic]

Just one person's opinion:

It appears that the Astro kit may not contain as many adapters as the OTC kit.

 

[CobraRed]

Just one person's opinion:

It appears that the Astro kit may not contain as many adapters as the OTC kit.

He also says he hasn't counted them.

Astros reply in the comments:

Great video as always.
There's actually the same number of adapters in the two sets.
OTC: 13 adapters, 3 cup stacking plates, 1 hub install adapter
Astro: 13 adapters, 2 cup stacking plates, 1 hub install adapter. The additional extra large cup plate and the cup (few required applications but can be nice to use) is available separately as 78825XLA. Should be everything. That's not to say one wouldn't work better than another in certain situations.
Our application list also goes up to 2019 and lists around 300 more applications, albeit not in a large bound book.

 

[_brian_]

Just one person's opinion:

It appears that the Astro kit may not contain as many adapters as the OTC kit.

He also says he hasn't counted them.

I think the OTC kit simply looks bigger as it contains the whole other piece in it, whereas Astro has it separate. But, the data is also old. The OTC kit has 17 plates and 5 cups. The Astro set has 16 plates and 4 cups ... the 17th plate and 5th cup avail separate as stated in Astro's reply. It is only used on a few larger applications, I know this, because I have one of those.

 

[HomeTheaterMan]

Well, you guys sold me. I ordered both the bearing press kit and the hub/rotor/drum puller. Although I haven't gotten either yet. I ordered just the bearing press kit first and the retailer I ordered it from accidentally sent me a ball joint press instead. So I'm waiting on the return. While waiting on it, I ended up just having my buddy use his OTC Hub Grappler for me. Turns out after we put the new bearing in, the used knuckled I'd gotten was bent.

So now I have to do it all again. Instead of bugging my buddy again to use his, I decided to just order the Astro puller too. I'm hoping to get both setups sometime this week and try them out.

 

[anndel]

I have both the OTC hub grappler and the Astro kit less the hub/drum puller. I prefer the Astro as they seem more robust, especially the grade 8 bolt. I've had the OTC bolt and cup bend/crushed which Bosch reluctantly warrantied. Bosch admitted they've had problems with the bolt and didn't recommend using an air impact wrench.

 

[CobraRed]

OTC know the fine thread 3/4" bolt is an issue and don't care.

 

[Formerjeeper]

He also says he hasn't counted them.

Astros reply in the comments:

Anyone know where to download their applications list?

 

[drtyler]

From the Matco website:

https://www.matcotools.com/productassets/web-documents/WBSS75_InstructionManual_01.pdf

Anyone know where to download their applications list?

 

[Formerjeeper]

Thanks!

 

[HomeTheaterMan]

Well, I said earlier that I'd ordered both of these. I'm apparently getting neither now. National Tool Warehouse has to be one of the worst companies I've ever dealt with.

I ended up just getting a friend to use his OTC set again to get this job done for me since it became clear that I was going to get the tools I'd ordered.

I just hope I get my money back, then I may try to order them elsewhere. The whole thing really just has me soured on the whole deal though. I may just wait until I need them again and then see what options are out there then.

 

[anndel]

Well, I said earlier that I'd ordered both of these. I'm apparently getting neither now. National Tool Warehouse has to be one of the worst companies I've ever dealt with.

I ended up just getting a friend to use his OTC set again to get this job done for me since it became clear that I was going to get the tools I'd ordered.

I just hope I get my money back, then I may try to order them elsewhere. The whole thing really just has me soured on the whole deal though. I may just wait until I need them again and then see what options are out there then.

What set are you getting, OTC or Astro? I got the Astro set from Amazon.com and the OTC from JB Tools.

 

[HomeTheaterMan]

What set are you getting, OTC or Astro? I got the Astro set from Amazon.com and the OTC from JB Tools.

I was trying to get the Astro. The only reason I didn't get it from Amazon is that I needed to fix my car and Amazon was showing around a month out on delivery due to this virus. So that's why I tried to purchase it elsewhere from a place that "claimed" to be able to ship it right away.

That said, this whole experience has been so bad, I'm thinking it may be a sign to just pony up for the OTC. I've used my friends a couple of times now and I know that I'm very happy with it. He keeps trying to convince me that it's the way to go, but he doesn't own the Astro to compare it to.

I see you said you prefer the Astro bolt above. Having used both, do you feel the rest of it is just as good or better as well?

 

[nicks78camaro]

@Astro_Pneumatic_Tools resurrecting this thread can you tell us why 78825XLA isn't part of the master kit and has been discontinued? Not widely used?

Also I just bought the 78825 kit not knowing the HD kit existed. Is there a way to buy the thrust washer from the HD kit separately?

 

[Astro_Pneumatic_Tools]

@Astro_Pneumatic_Tools resurrecting this thread can you tell us why 78825XLA isn't part of the master kit and has been discontinued? Not widely used?

Also I just bought the 78825 kit not knowing the HD kit existed. Is there a way to buy the thrust washer from the HD kit separately?

78825XLA is not discontinued, we have stock currently and plan on making more. Like most parts give us a call or drop us a line asking about the part number and we can assist.
It's not included because it would not fit in the case, hard to wrap your head around just how big the adapter is, it's like twice the amount of steel as the next largest size.

Can send you a thrust bearing, just drop me a DM.

 

[nicks78camaro]

78825XLA is not discontinued, we have stock currently and plan on making more. Like most parts give us a call or drop us a line asking about the part number and we can assist.
It's not included because it would not fit in the case, hard to wrap your head around just how big the adapter is, it's like twice the amount of steel as the next largest size.

Can send you a thrust bearing, just drop me a DM.

Gotcha thanks!