I was trying to remove my pilot bearing by the socket packed with grease method and all I got was a stuck socket. I accept that I am an idiot and should have quit when the smaller socket didn't work, but the fact remains that I have a socket stuck in my pilot bearing. The socket is a 1/4 inch drive and I have had no luck finding a bearing puller tool that will fit in it. I used a deep well socket so I still have about 1/2 worth of socket sticking out. I have tried vice grips, but they just slid off. I tried beating it side to side, no dice. I have been considering drilling small holes along the edge of the socket to try and free it up. Any advice?

 

Find a tap that you can cut threads into the socket. It needs to fit tight. Tighten the tap and when it bottoms out keep going. That will pull the socket out and if you're lucky the bearing may come out with it.

 

Tell ya, pilot bearing can be a pain in the ***, to get out. The grease trick works sometimes.... Most of the time I use a dremel with a carbide bit to cut one side of the bearing and tap it out with a small chisel.

 

Thanks for the ideas. I guess the socket shrunk over Christmas because I put a longer extension on it and worked it up and down while pulling with vise grips and it came out.