DANA 44 Rear Axle: Slide-hammer race or?

[2Stock]

Is there an "easy" way to remove the race for the rear wheel bearing? I have been trying with a slide hammer and hooking one arm of the puller in back of the race. I have made progress but it is slow going. I can imagine that there must be a tool for this or a trick to making it easier.

Also, same question as the last post (for the DANA 44) Do I lube the wheel bearing with grease?

[2Stock]

Thanks to replies to my previous post about which differential I had, I can now answer part of my own question: "The race (bearing-cup) should be removed with an internal puller." So far I haven't seen the exact puller that will work but will keep looking. As far as a description of overhauling a Dana 44 axel, I can't imagine a description any better than this: http://www.stu-offroad.com/d44/d44-1.htm

[J20 project]

How good of a welder are you?? You can run a bead around the face of the race and the moment it cools it is a few Thousandths smaller and falls right out. I used to have people come into my shop wanting bearings pulled out of hubs all the time because they didn't have a press or whatever. Bzzap, done in 30 secs. J20

[cherokee kid]

i just did a rear axle overhaul on my 76 cherokee with a dana44. i went to auto zone and barrowed a slide hammer from them. They make you put down a deposit, but they don't charge you anything if you bring it back un-damageed.it came with a puller that would switch from an inside puller to an outside puller, it wored great. Also i'm pretty sure you need to grease the wheel bearings, at least my 44 requiredit. if you use a marine grease that is used in boats, it will last longer and withstand a little water that seeps in.

[arter]

I went through this a few weeks ago. I think an inside puller is the way to go if you can get your hands on one. I ended up using a bearing seal puller (two curved edges on a handle kind, $5 at parts store) and PB Blaster. Gave it a good spray, let it sit overnight, sprayed it again next day and worked it out with the seal puller. Just kept working around the race until it fell out, said something like "gotcha!" :D

[2Stock]

I finally got it out. While using the puller I go it a little sideways. I used an oxy-acetylene torch and heated it. Used the torch on the second one before I started pulling and it came right out. I had the bearings pressed on and got it running yesterday. It runs as quiet as an empty church.