Those who might have noted my painfully slow progress in changing wheel bearings in my wife's 2015 Q7 will not be too surprised at this post. So far, I have elected to make each tool for the job, as the Audi specific tools (SnapOn supplied) are NOT available to purchase in Canada and I don't have the time to wait weeks for US supply. The wheel bearings for this car are GIGANTIC HBU 1 (i.e. first gen that means single outer race with two ball inners pressed together my axle out CV joint and separate hub unit. I have got by just fine for last half century with the snap ring (i.e. retaining ring) pliers in my box, but this needs a LOT more tool to compress safely - and I am not really able to make this tool (practically speaking). I went to the big jobber stores (NAPA, Grainger, Gregg and local auto parts warehouse/distributor and the largest pin size available was 0.090" (need 1/8") so I had to swallow my pride and go to the tool trucks. SnapOn guy said he had what I needed....for only $265 for one or 400 for the pair. $380 plus tax later I have a Blue Point set about 16" long, ratchet hold and interchangeable (as in BOLT on) tips. Grainger had one set (3 others discontinued) of Nipex listed, but only way to get them was order from factory. Painful to have to pay tool truck price but super pleased to be able to drive a few blocks to meet the guy and trade some cash for a decent tool on the spot.
Snap (on) ring pliers
- Thread starter cannuck
- Start date
whateg01
Well-known member
No doubt the snap on set of better, but Amazon has the OTC set with 0.12" for about $110 below the border.
Yeah, the OTC 7300 and 7301 as well as Proto have 16 inch pliers very similar to the SnapOn set, but couildn't find any in stock in YXE
rust in the eye
Well-known member
Clearly I do not have your project in front of me so correct me if way off base here.
Using plain old screwdrivers, picks, whatever has served me well on many ocassions when a large snap ring presents itself. Such as pitman arm shafts seals and some bearing situations as (?) yours. The bigger they are the more forgiving.
Have you tried a hammer and screwdriver/pointy object to get it started out of the groove? It's German, it should understand force.
Using plain old screwdrivers, picks, whatever has served me well on many ocassions when a large snap ring presents itself. Such as pitman arm shafts seals and some bearing situations as (?) yours. The bigger they are the more forgiving.
Have you tried a hammer and screwdriver/pointy object to get it started out of the groove? It's German, it should understand force.
I have enough grip from decades of heavy work to be able to break bones - but on the largest set of Proto pliers I could barely move it with one hand and could not close it far enough to insert with 2. I couldn't break loose from the rust in the groove with the pliers, so a hammer and punch were needed to let the ring turn. I can guarantee you would not remove of install one of these with anything less than the monster pliers.
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scooby074
Well-known member
Good purchase. Heavy snap rings are no joke. Snappy makes a fine set of plier style snap ring pliers but on these larger ones, its nice to have a ratchet mechanism. The axle SR on a F250 axle is a chonker and about the heaviest I want to deal with before going with a ratchet model.
Nothing wrong with spending money on a quality tool to do a job safely and easier.
Nothing wrong with spending money on a quality tool to do a job safely and easier.
I would rather have bought from the actual manufacturer (Winter??) but the tool truck guy had them in stock.
scooby074
Well-known member
If theyre the ones Im thinking of, I think the OEM is Lang. Lang makes a lot of stuff for SO. If you hate to spend the extra money for the truck, you best not look at this lol.
$125 on Amazon
whateg01
Well-known member
I used to have a set of snap ring pliers that were great for those you couldn't hold onto, where the ratcheting was good. But these used a screwdriver style handle and a scissor mechanism to close. They weren't have enough for big jobs, but maybe there's something like them out there for bigger snap rings. I think I would like those better than any pliers style for a job like that.
ETA: yup, still made and these are even better!
www.jbtools.com
ETA: yup, still made and these are even better!
Lang Tools 87 Extra Large Snap Ring Pliers with Tip Kit (87)
Discover the Lang Tools 87 Extra Large Snap Ring Pliers, perfect for heavy-duty automotive and industrial use. Durable, versatile, and easy to use. Shop now on JB Tools!
www.jbtools.com
Those look to be the same. I paid $380 in Loonies for inner and outer pairs, about bang on current exchange rate with your link.
scooby074
Well-known member
That was in CAD.
When did Nova Scotia join Canada?
scooby074
Well-known member
About 38 years before you did.
I never signed up for what we have, so didn't join.