HF tool pass or fail needed

https://www.harborfreight.com/Front-Wheel-Drive-Bearing-Remover-and-Installer-Kit-21-Pc-63728.html

Has anyone purchased the HF Maddox wheel bearing press kit? Need to know if it's a pass or fail.  The local auto parts stores either don't carry or don't have  the rental kit. I need to the civic done this week end. 
 

I have this kit but have never used it for wheel bearing pulling, well at least not with the long bolt thing. I only bought it for the myriad of adapters to use in a hydraulic shop press. Like any press set, it's only as good as the adapters - if it doesn't have what you need then it's worthless. In my experience, trying to press stuff like this on the car is usually guaranteed to be frustrating.

Replace the front wheel bearing on FWD cars and light trucks hassle-free

Loooooooooooooool. Every single pressed bearing is a pain in the ass compared to bolt in assemblies. Maybe if noone had ever invented those I would dislike pressed bearings less. It's not even the bearing. Those are at least always the same shape. It's what you have to press against on the knuckle that is a crapshoot. 

It's a definite pass with a caveat: replace the bolt with a stout piece of all thread and a couple nuts. 

Follow up:

Pass. I recommend putting grease on the bolt to prevent it from stripping. I'm not sure what is safer using the bolt method or using the cups on a press but since I don't have a press I'll stick with it.

Sounds like you bought and used it already but another vote in favor of this one, it works as well as an on-car screw-driven kit will.  I used it on a mk2 VW and 89 Taurus with success, back in 2010 and generally harbor freight quality gets a little better over time if anything.

RedGT said:

Sounds like you bought and used it already but another vote in favor of this one, it works as well as an on-car screw-driven kit will.  I used it on a mk2 VW and 89 Taurus with success, back in 2010 and generally harbor freight quality gets a little better over time if anything.

Just went the other day and bought quite a few things that were totally surprising to me. Even their new ratchets are equal in quality to the Matco/Snap-On stuff now. I was blown away at how smooth the action feels. Used it on Sunday to do some work to my wifes truck and they worked great. I guess ill have to update and see how long they last versus my Snap-on/Matco/Craftsman stuff but so far im sold on the 1/2" and 3/8" ratchets from Pittsburgh.

I've had their ratchets for years now and dont think i've ever broken one. The flex heads do get loose over time. 

Also, there is a huge difference in how ratchets 'feel' based on the type of grease (or total absence of grease) inside them. A couple years ago i went on a rampage opening all my ratchets, even ones i didn't use, and experimenting with different greases. Some added too much backdrag etc, but i ended up settling mostly on the little grease packets that come with poly suspension bushings as being my favorite. It makes even some cheesy ratchets feel and sound pretty good. 

In reply to Vigo :

I've only managed to break 2 of their ratchets through the years. A 3/8 I put a 6 foot breaker bar on that ripped the rubber handle, and a half inch I forgot in the yard for a winter that only loosens things now.

Vigo said:

Also, there is a huge difference in how ratchets 'feel' based on the type of grease (or total absence of grease) inside them. A couple years ago i went on a rampage opening all my ratchets, even ones i didn't use, and experimenting with different greases. Some added too much backdrag etc, but i ended up settling mostly on the little grease packets that come with poly suspension bushings as being my favorite. It makes even some cheesy ratchets feel and sound pretty good. 

I went through all of mine this summer and did the same thing. Finally settled on synthetic wheel bearing grease. They all got better, but generally the cheaper and crappier it was the more the addition of fresh grease improved it.

I've only managed to break 2 of their ratchets through the years. A 3/8 I put a 6 foot breaker bar on that ripped the rubber handle, and a half inch I forgot in the yard for a winter that only loosens things now.

Well, i think most 'good' ratchets are limited by the mechanical abilities of their drive end/arbor thing more than the ratcheting mechanism. A solid 3/8" steel square seems to be limited to ~300lb ft and a 1/2" steel square is limited to about ~1000lb ft. Subtract a fair amount if it's a 'quick release' with a button on the back of the head as those have a hole going all the way through the drive end thing. I forget the term for that damn thing.