Pullers for automotive use - need guidance

[marlinspike]

Looking at all the pullers offered by Stahlwille, Gedore, and Hazet will make a person's head spin. With so many types, I need some guidance. What are the pros/cons of the permanently parallel type verses the swiveling type? What size(s) would get most jobs that need a puller done? Ignore the need for a windshield wiper/battery terminal puller, I have that covered.

 

[E.Marquez]

What do you commonly work on? Motorcycle? Automotive? Large Truck? Heavy duty Equipment? Stationary power plants?

Start with that, and then a person that works on that kind of equipment can give you better idea of common needed pullers for that application.

I have a 40" wide draw full of pullers.... and that is just for Automotive, motorcycle and small / Medium type equipment....

As important as the puller are the adapters and accessory, bearing separators, throat clamps, threaded adapters, pulley adapters... ect

 

[marlinspike]

Automotive, though my puller needs are limited (at the moment by funds) to pullers for pilot bearings and pulleys. I can keep borrowing for the much more rare other needs in the meantime. I already have a puller and slide hammer selected for the pilot bearing application. For the pulleys I'm thinking I need on that goes to 130mm and then another for crank pulleys that goes to 200. Do I really need a 3-arm, or will a good 2-arm work just as well. I've only ever used the swivel kind, but looking at the constantly parallel jaw kind that looks like a much better idea and seems like it would be just as good as a swivel 3-arm with the convenience of a 2-arm, and I can't think of a downside. But, I've never used or seen one, so maybe I'm wrong about that?

 

[mailpup]

You really don't want to use pullers that grip the outside portion of a harmonic balancer. Most balancers can be damaged that way. For most you can use a threaded hole type puller similar to tapped hole steering wheel pullers. In fact you can usually use the same puller for both purposes. Of course, there are some crank pulleys that need a special puller.

 

[Rezeppa]

This is a great topic. What are the most common pullers / suggestions. I have a few nice three arm puller sets, a steering wheel puller. I make most of my own as I need them. My workplace has many heavy duty pullers for different applications. I am definitely looking at more.

 

[mailpup]

I'm a DIYer but I've done my share of replacing power steering pumps. If you work on power steering pumps, for most domestic cars you will need a P/S pulley puller. There are a few different designs but I usually use the often copied OTC puller. I also have a Snap-on P/S puller as a backup.

Given that you might not work on P/S pumps that often, you can probably rent this when needed but it is satisfying to have your own.

Although many mechanics remove ball joints and outer tie rod ends using a BFG, I prefer a puller. However, there are different kinds. Probably the most universal is the "scissors" type where the leverage is applied from the side. The straight in-line type puller will not work if access to the nut of a lower ball joint is blocked by the outer CV joint. Some Hondas are like this. Another use for this type of puller is for removing the rear bushing of the lower control arm on a BMW. It wasn't designed for this but it works anyway.