Rear hub runout

So I put out the big money for a heavy duty five jaw wheel puller, (from Walmart if you can believe that), and pulled both rear hubs this afternoon. I think the 5-1/2" spread is about as small as this puller can go. Both sides had the key in upside down, the drivers side was smashed in and the hub was obviously bent and the taper on the axle shaft was not Shiney for more than an inch or so out from the bearing. The passengers side actually looked ok, the taper was Shiney until the last 3/4" of the narrow end of the taper.  I put a dial indicator on both ends, and I am baffled by the results. Both axle shafts are out 8 thousandths in tight to the bearing, and they vary 50 thousandths out near the end of the taper. However, they are "in and out" twice as you go around rather than completely "strong side/weak side" which would be typical for a bent shaft. What's up with that? It's as though the tapers were cut with a file by hand and then scooted up or something?

Edited by BD1 - 11 Jan. 2020 at 11:47pm

I understand that that hub is junk. What I don't understand is the indicated read on the axle shafts? Are they all out of round this way, or are mine the result of running on bad hubs or what. I am used to shafts that are bent reading plus on one side and minus on the other, The " in and out, in and out" as you go around baffles me. This stuff wan't hand made, was it?

BD1 wrote: I understand that that hub is junk. What I don't understand is the indicated read on the axle shafts? Are they all out of round this way, or are mine the result of running on bad hubs or what. I am used to shafts that are bent reading plus on one side and minus on the other, The " in and out, in and out" as you go around baffles me. This stuff wan't hand made, was it?

I once purchased an M38 that had a broken axel, sheared off just behind the key way. I removed the axel stub from the hub in a press, the PO had assembled it and had slid the key back like yours and cracked the hub like yours and no doubt had a hell of a wobble, he towed it down the interstate with a tow bar and the wobble caused the axel to shear off, so yes if yours were caught in time most likely is bent outside the bearing, I do not believe you should find any runout on the end of the axel. So yes I believe your axels in time have bent because of the hubs running untrue over a period of time. Were i you, I would post in the wanted section here for “used original axels & hubs”, and avoid the Chi-Com aftermarket replacements. Many members here have several used axel assembly’s laying around and may offer you parts a a decent price.

My experience, Lee

Puller you bought looks identical to a used snap-on I  bought to pull my hubs except mine came with 3 feet or jaws instead of 5. On my hubs I  tightened the center bolt and then hit the bolt with a copper mallet with success. I could see 5 jaw  would be a plus on hubs that have been on for many years and rusty. I wonder who makes that puller and rebrands