Updated July 25, 2019 by Rafael Perez

The 8 Best Slide Hammers

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This wiki has been updated 16 times since it was first published in August of 2015. Slide hammers are specialized instruments that transfer inertia to a component that you want to remove using a weight that impacts a stop connected to a shaft, which is fixed to the target component or area. Whether you work in an auto body shop or do your own DIY repair, one of these tools will make it easy to pull dents, remove bearings, and strike an object from an inaccessible side. When users buy our independently chosen editorial recommendations, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki. Skip to the best slide hammer on Amazon.

8. Neiko 02236A

7. Lotus Analin AT3689

6. Texton 5632

5. GearWrench 41700D

4. OTC 4579

3. XtremepowerUS 02216

2. CTA Tools 8090

1. Alltrade 648611

Editor's Notes

July 24, 2019:

Slide hammers offer the ability to perform repairs that would otherwise be extremely difficult. As far as dent pulling, you can quickly weld the hammer to the center of the dent and yank it to form. Without this tool, you would have to remove the plastic liner or the entire piece. Most panels on cars now have inner and an outer panels which complicates the task of popping a dent out from the inside (since the inner sheet is not removable and often blocks the outer panel).

For pulling axles, hubs, and other suspension components, the impact of having a slide hammer like the Alltrade 648611, the CTA Tools 8090, or the XtremepowerUS 02216 is also significant. Suspension components will rust in any part of the world (more so where road salt is used) and pulling them by hand is out of the question. Conventional hammers can be used where enough space is allowed behind the wheel hub but this is almost never the case and they do not produce uniform forces which can lead to marring and failures. These kits include everything that is required to complete the vast majority of these sorts of tasks.

Automotive repair contains many inherent dangers and should only be performed by trained technicians to avoid personal injury or damage to property.

Rafael Perez
Last updated on July 25, 2019 by Rafael Perez

Rafael Perez is a doctoral candidate in philosophy at the University of Rochester. His primary focus is the metaphysics of time and the philosophy of mind, with a particular interest in artificial intelligence and antirepresentational models of the mind. He has extensive experience as a mechanic, a construction worker, and a general repairman. This has allowed him to gather a wealth of knowledge on automobile repair, auto parts, carpentry, masonry, welding, and the tools used in those trades. In his spare time, he enjoys playing guitar, woodworking, and fishing.
