We all have stuff have like this happen so don't be embarrased.Hey guys I figured I would post my lessons learned even though I really don't want to admit, I already f'd up.
Well long story short i bent the rubber seal pressing on the pulley with a socket too big. All the socket was contacting with was the rubber.
So I didn't want to proceed with installing knowing the seal was jacked.
I ordered a new bearing off amazon. ACDelco 15-2802 also crosses to 6559469. It was $19 on prime(can be found cheaper but cant beat 2 day shipping).
Now how to get the pulley back off the cage.
I found using three sockets on the bottom to stand up the assembly.
And one socket down the middle worked like a charm.
Here is what the bottom would look like.
View attachment 70120
And what it looked like on the press with the 3 sockets under it (rags to protect the pulley).
View attachment 70121
It came off pretty easily.
Now to get the bearing out of the pulley.
I built a little cube out of 2x4's.
Just flip the pulley over on the cube and the bearing pressed right out.
View attachment 70122
I ordered some Loctite 39150 to mount the bearing in the pulley.
All came apart well and back in with no problem, definitely a quality item.
Now I just want to compare how deep everyone else's pulleys are mounted.
View attachment 70123
Hope this helps somebody maybe not today but even down the road.
My suggestion is to take the old bearing and cut the outer race off and then open up the inner race so its not a press fit anymore. Then use the inner race as something to press against in order to install the pulley. Thats what I did.
Here is my pulley assembled.