OTC Hub Grappler Demo and Review

[EricTheCarGuy]

This is one of those tools that once you know about it, you want one. Sometimes once you get a tool like that you can be disappointed. Not the case with the Hub Grappler. It may be heavy, but it works and can save you a bunch of time. In fact, in many ways it can replace a shop press if you don’t have the room for one.

Have you had experience with this tool? If so, please share with the class.

Topic

[Zen]

Great tool !!!!!! Didn’t even have to take the hubs off the car. But it costs a ship load of money for a DIYer who is probably going to use it once or twice. Very important on this tool is to use some oil on the forcing bolt”s threads to minimize wear. I just bought the heart of the tool (forcing bolt+nut , and the grappler) on amazon, and the adapters form Harbor Freight with a 20% coupon. Way better deal for a DIYer. Although Harbor Freight set does not have all of the adapters as the OTC , but for my repair (’06 mdx ) it did. I’ve noticed that the hardest part of this tools job is to free the bearing from the hub, once the bearing gets free then the tool forces it out with ease. Nice job Eric on the demo.

[Its me]

I have a hub tamer and the grappler looks like a great improvement on the set I have… The one I have uses j shaped configuration to hold pressure on the knuckle and splash shields can be troublesome. .. it can also get off angle fairly easily.

The two arm puller is hit or miss on stuck bearing races… I usually end up using a chisel to have to get space enough between the hub and race for the puller arms to have something to grab….then the puller works pretty well..

Cheers

Karl

[Peter]

Take a look at this video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-jMUkK9TSQ

Adding a thrust bearing to the Hub Grappler kit can sometimes help on stubborn bearings/hubs.

[Scott Osborne]

Now that I know this exists I must have one. I had my Cornwell guy look it up and they have it listed for $699? Does anyone know what OTC’s warranty is like? I like the convenience of buying off the truck, but that seems like a healthy mark up if OTC will replace components without giving me a hard time.

Thanks

[Author]

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