It sure did!
The first pic shows extreme force needed to break the bearing loose. You may notice I am not using the large PVC coupling. It's all metal doing the work. The washers and unistrut bracket caved in slightly, and I had to double up on the washers.
After the bearing broke "loose" (It is still very tight) I was lucky enough to not destroy the large PVC coupling as it travelled out of the knuckle.
Worked like a champ. Finding a 2-1/2" electrical PVC coupling with a 2-7/8" I.D was the hardest part. I wished for a metal coupling but couldn't find one at the local hardware store. Luckily the PVC coupling worked after it was broke loose.