I'm am halfway through replacing my flex discs and center carrier support.

Right now I am trying to remove the bracket without this special jaw tool shown here:



Any tips on removing it without that special tool? I'm taking a break for dinner so there is no urgency in my request

Also on a small note. The fan shroud, do I really need it? I removed it when I did my coolant flush and never bothered to put it back in. So far everything has been fine so I don't see any urgency to put it back in.

__________________
-Typos courtesy of my mobile phone.

Not to give an annoying answer, but is it possible to run to a Harbor Freight or Sears and just buy a big three-jawed puller? It's really easy with that tool and IIRC they aren't that expensive. Short of that, I'd try tapping it a little bit at a time with a punch around the circumference. You just want it to go off evenly and not go cockeyed and get stuck.

As for the fan shroud, I'm not sure, but I'd say you want that on there to deflect sticks and other random bits of nature and litter that may flip up into the fan.

__________________
1987 300D, arctic white/palomino--314,000 miles
1978 240D 4-speed, Euro Delivery, light ivory/bamboo--370,000 miles
2005 Jeep Liberty CRD Limited, light khaki/slate--140,000 miles
2018 Chevy Cruze diesel, 6-speed manual, satin steel metallic/kalahari--19,000 miles
1982 Peugeot 505 diesel, 4-speed manual, blue/blue, 130,000 miles
1995 S320, black/parchment--34,000 miles (Dad's car)

You could use a press but you may not have one either. Actually there are so many common three jaw pullers around you should be able to borrow one somewhere.

the only option my tiny little brain can muster:

heat the hell outta that piece, cool the inner splines w/ ice and smack the outer with a hammer ( piece of wood)


or... the suggested method. Find the right tool for less than $25 and get it done without any damage.

... I kinda like that option.

fan shroud should be on. It helps the fan do its job.

its more important in warmer weather, but why keep it in your garage?

I just knock them off with a brass drift. Done plenty that way, just watch your hand with the hammer.

__________________
79 MB 280 SEL Euro 133k
77 MB 450SL 154k
05 Mustang GT Vert (3) 104k
12 TSX Wagon Tech (66k) (192k)
06 Subaru Outback base (135k) 164k
16 Acura MDX (109k) 111k
18 Silverado 2500 LTZ Midnight (212) 56k
97 Ford Ranger 163k
11 RAV4 154k
01 Escape 173k
04 Honda Pilot 292k
1967 Mustang (Resto Project)
1968 Mustang (Parts Bin)
00 Ford Ranger 124k

Harbor Freight and Sears are about a twenty or so minute drive into town at this hour it's just an ehh type of thing

A friend is going to lend me one tomorrow, but I would be ecstatic to get the entire job back tonight, but I think in the end I may just wait for him to loan me his.

As for the fan shroud, lets just say it broke a month ago when I was trying to do my coolant flush and change When I'm in California I'll go to a pick n' pull and just grab one from the millions of w123s there.

__________________
-Typos courtesy of my mobile phone.

Concur. Failing that, drill a hole part way through the bearing and split it with a chisel. Or cut it part way through with a Dremel and cut-off wheel.

Agreed, that's the way I've done it. Putting the new one on was a PITA though.

__________________
2013 Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid SEL Premium (Sparky)
http://badges.fuelly.com/images/smallsig-us/193500.png

It's a car not a science experiment! Open the throttle!

You know, it might be easier to pull off if I remove the circlip

Edit: Alright I thought I was going nuts, but there is no circlip on my driveshaft. In fact there was an odd rubber covering that protected part of the spline from the elements.

Am I missing something? I'm going to have to boot up into windows to see if EPC is the same.

Edit 2: Just checked the FSM "Cars 1982 and later are not given a locking ring and are instead given a protective rubber cap."

Time to start beating this thing out!

__________________
-Typos courtesy of my mobile phone.

Hit it hard with a hammer like it owes you money.

The new one will slide right on. Just clean the mating surface up a little, I used like 1000 grit sandpaper, put a very light film of grease on... and push(wiggle) the new bearing on. I had to "pull" mine off by hand a couple times before I reinstalled the driveshaft. No problems.

__________________
08 R320 CDI current

Past
95 E420
87 300D Turbo 5spd
90 300TE
83 300SD
85 300TD
92 400E
85 190D

You guys were right! That was oddly easy with a punch and mallet!
That and I finally figured out how to get the drive shaft back together with the flex discs in place!

$20 saved and feeling mildly accomplished

__________________
-Typos courtesy of my mobile phone.