By steven caldwell (Pisgah001) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

I'm having trouble getting the axel bearing removed from the axel on my MAX II. I've tried tapping it counter-clockwise but it still won't budge. Removed the outer bearing flange and pulled the axel, then put it in a vise and tried again...no luck.

Sprayed it with penetrating oil...tried again..no luck.

Should I carefully cut it off with a die grinder (perpendicular of course)?

When putting it back together, will a little anti-seizing compound prevent this problem from happening again (I ordered a new bearing already)?

By Fred Sowerwine, Montana's Max Dealer (Fred4dot) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Stephen, the collar only moves a very short distance (about 1/8 inch) and then it tightens up again. If it doesn't come off one way with a good hard tap or two, try the other way. I generally tighten them toward the front of the vehicle, loosen toward the back (at this point, I'm not sure how they come from the factory because I haven't worked on one for so long). If you have no intention of using the collar or bearing again, take the set screw completely out and use a chisel to break it off. You don't want to use anything that will prevent a tight fit when you put it back together (the collar, tight to the axle is what holds everything where it belongs).

By John Martin on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Oxygen-Acetylene torch will work great if you end up having to cut off the old collar. If you can’t get it to budge remember-When in doubt and if in doubt, use a bigger hammer. Just joking, those collars can be very difficult to get free sometimes. Make sure you loosen the set screw and only use the punch in the hole opposite the set screw so you won’t jack the threads. Don’t let David hear you used a punch on the collar, be sure and use a Spanner Wrench of the correct size (I remembered from last time David). A punch is what I have to use, I don’t have a spanner for that size of collar.

By George on Unrecorded Date: Edit

I've had a lot of luck cutting the collars with a dremmel almost all the way but not quite to the Axel. Put one cut accross the the hex nut type thing and the other on the opposite side of the collar. Than, just give the collar a wack or two with a hammer (as though you were trying to get the collar to slide along the axel) and it will crack right in half. Just do not cut so deep in to the collar that you hit the axel.