Hub Puller vs Bearing Puller: Which One Should You Buy?
A hub puller and a bearing puller compared for a home garage: what each tool removes or installs, the sizes each covers, and which jobs each suits.
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Top picks at a glance
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- 1
CARVALAX 12-Way Slide Hammer Puller Set9.7/10View on Amazon - 2
OMT Wheel Bearing Press Kit for Front Wheel Bearing Removal &9.7/10View on Amazon - 3
SGT Wheel Hub Removal Tool Kit9.7/10View on Amazon - 4
BELOMI 6 Inch 3-Jaw Bearing Puller with Reversible JawsView on Amazon - 5
Yukon Heavy Duty Carrier Bearing Puller SetView on Amazon
Verdict: Choose a hub puller if you need to remove a stuck wheel hub or rear axle. Choose a bearing puller if you need to remove a blind bearing or bushing, and reach for the bearing press kit when the job is installing new races and seals.
A stuck wheel hub can stop a brake job cold, and a blind bearing buried in a housing is worse. Both jobs need a puller, but a hub puller vs bearing puller comparison is really about which part you need to move: the hub puller works on the hub and axle, while the bearing tools remove blind bearings or install races and seals. This comparison covers both sides with one hub puller and two bearing tools from the listings.
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OMT Blind Hole Collet Bearing Race and Seal Puller
A 16-piece blind-hole bearing puller kit with a slide hammer, counterstay puller and 10 split collets for parts from 1/4 to 2-1/3 in.
Pros
- Covers parts from 1/4 to 2-1/3 in (6-59 mm)
- Slide hammer and counterstay puller included
- 10 split collets with 3 screw adapters
- Chromoly steel collets for stubborn blind bearings
Cons
- No weight stated in the listing
- Pulls bearings out; it does not press new races in
- Each part needs the matching collet fitted and locked first
- The kit is 18.5 in long, the longest of the three
Orion Motor Tech OMT Front Hub and Rear Axle
A 2-piece flange-type hub and axle puller set with a 5/8 in x 18 forcing bolt, covering 3-3/4 to 4-1/2 in hubs and 4-1/2 to 5-1/2 in axles.
Pros
- Covers 3-3/4 to 4-1/2 in hubs and 4-1/2 to 5-1/2 in axles
- 5/8 in x 18 forcing bolt with fastening nut and socket
- AISI 1045 medium carbon steel, heat treated
- Applies straight, even force so bearings stay in the joint
Cons
- Pulls hubs and axles only; it does not handle bearings
- No storage case stated
- Only one forcing bolt size is stated: 5/8 in x 18
- Hub puller fits most vehicles with independent front suspension, not all of them
OMT Bearing Press Kit, 10pc Bearing Race and Seal
A 10-piece bearing race and seal driver set with 9 dual-sided adapters covering 39.5 to 81 mm, for installing races and seals without damaging the axle housing.
Pros
- 9 dual-sided adapters cover 39.5 to 81 mm
- Installs races and seals without damaging the housing
- Knurled driver handle with laser-marked collars
- Storage case keeps the set together on the go
Cons
- Installs races and seals; it does not pull bearings out
- Spec table weight of 0.000625 lb does not match a 10-piece metal kit
- Adapters fit most standard races and seals, not every size
- The kit is 10.43 in long, longer than the hub puller set
Other tools worth a look
BELOMI 6 Inch 3-Jaw Bearing Puller with Reversible JawsCheck price on Amazon
Yukon Heavy Duty Carrier Bearing Puller SetCheck price on Amazon
Hub puller vs bearing puller side by side
| Hub puller | Bearing press kit | Blind-hole bearing puller | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it does | Pulls wheel hubs and rear axles | Installs bearing races and seals | Pulls blind bearings and bushings |
| Sizes covered | 3-3/4 to 4-1/2 in hubs; 4-1/2 to 5-1/2 in axles | 39.5 to 81 mm adapters | 1/4 to 2-1/3 in (6-59 mm) parts |
| How it works | 5/8 in x 18 forcing bolt with fastening nut and socket | Knurled driver handle with laser-marked collars | Slide hammer with counterstay puller |
| Material | AISI 1045 medium carbon steel | Heavy-duty aluminum alloy | AISI 1045 medium carbon steel; chromoly collets |
| Weight | 4.0 lb | Not stated | Not stated |
| Warranty | 1 YEAR | 1 year | 1 year |
| Storage | Not stated | Storage case included | Blow-molded case included |
| Pieces | 2-Piece set | 10 pieces with 9 adapters | 16 pieces with 10 collets |
Example figures are manufacturer rated, as published on each listing and collected 9 November 2026.
How a hub puller works
The hub puller in this comparison is a flange-type set: it locks onto the axle assembly and a forcing bolt drives the hub or axle out with straight, even force. The Orion Motor Tech set covers 3-3/4 to 4-1/2 in hubs and 4-1/2 to 5-1/2 in axles, and the listing says the bearing stays inside the joint while the hub comes out. It fits most vehicles with independent front wheel suspension, and the forcing bolt threading works with other 5/8 in x 18 adapters.
How the bearing tools work
The two bearing tools split the job in half. The press kit installs: its 9 dual-sided adapters span 39.5 to 81 mm, and the driver presses races and seals into place without damaging the axle housing. The blind-hole kit removes: its 10 split collets expand inside the inner race of parts from 1/4 to 2-1/3 in (6-59 mm), then the slide hammer knocks the bearing or bushing out, or the counterstay tightens slowly for more delicate work. One installs, the other removes, so check which half of the job you are doing before you pick.
Sizes and fit
Size is where the three examples separate most clearly. The hub puller set lists its ranges in inches: 3-3/4 to 4-1/2 in for hubs and 4-1/2 to 5-1/2 in for axles. The press kit lists its adapter range in millimeters: 39.5 to 81 mm. The blind-hole kit lists both: 1/4 to 2-1/3 in (6-59 mm). Measure the part you need to move and match it to the range the listing states; a puller that does not fit the part cannot do the job.
Materials and build
The hub puller set and the blind-hole kit are both made from AISI 1045 medium carbon steel, heat treated in the hub set and forged and galvanized in the blind-hole kit, whose collets are chromoly steel. The press kit takes a different route: heavy-duty aluminum alloy with a corrosion resistant coating. All three listings state a 1 year warranty; the hub set states it as 1 YEAR.
Choose a hub puller if
- You need to remove a stuck wheel hub or rear axle
- Your hub measures 3-3/4 to 4-1/2 in, or your axle 4-1/2 to 5-1/2 in
- You want the bearing to stay in the joint while the hub comes out
- You want a steel set with a forcing bolt and socket
Choose a bearing puller if
- You need to remove a blind bearing or bushing
- Your part measures 1/4 to 2-1/3 in across
- You need to install new races and seals with sized adapters
- You want a slide hammer or a press kit with sized adapters
Example pullers
For more choices, see the best hub puller for a car and the best bearing puller tool kit for a car.
Use rated jack stands on solid ground, wear eye protection with power and air tools, keep fuel-burning equipment out of a closed garage, and follow the manual for every tool. Read our Safety Disclaimer.
Garage Fit Check
- The blind-hole kit measures 18.5 x 12.59 x 4.72 in, the largest of the three, so give it a full shelf.
- The hub puller set measures 7.0 x 5.0 x 5.0 in and weighs 4.0 lb.
- The press kit measures 10.43 x 4.13 x 6.18 in and holds 10 pieces with 9 adapters.
- None of the three listings states a power supply, so no cord, outlet or battery is listed for any of them.
- Check the size range against the part before the first job: hubs to 4-1/2 in, axles to 5-1/2 in, adapters to 81 mm, collets to 2-1/3 in.
FAQ: garage tools
What is the difference between a hub puller and a bearing puller?
A hub puller removes the wheel hub or rear axle, while the bearing tools in this comparison remove blind bearings or install new races and seals. In this comparison, the hub puller set covers 3-3/4 to 4-1/2 in hubs and 4-1/2 to 5-1/2 in axles, and the blind-hole bearing puller covers parts from 1/4 to 2-1/3 in.
Can a bearing puller install new bearings?
The blind-hole puller in this comparison only removes bearings and bushings. Installing new races and seals is the press kit’s job: its 9 dual-sided adapters span 39.5 to 81 mm.
What size hub puller do I need?
Match the puller to the hub you need to remove. The hub puller set here covers 3-3/4 to 4-1/2 in hubs and 4-1/2 to 5-1/2 in axles, so measure the hub and axle first.
Do I need a slide hammer for a blind bearing?
The blind-hole kit here uses a slide hammer to knock the bearing out, with a counterstay puller for tighter or more delicate work. The collets lock into the inner race first, then the hammer does the pulling.
Which tool removes a bearing stuck inside a housing?
A blind-hole bearing puller: the kit here uses 10 split collets that expand inside the inner race of parts from 1/4 to 2-1/3 in (6-59 mm), then pulls them out with a slide hammer.
Related: the best hub puller kit, the best bearing puller kit with slide hammer, the best small bearing puller kit, the best ball joint press for wheel bearing and the pickle fork vs ball joint press comparison.
