2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission front hub removal

[rbattelle]

about an hour+ later on a 25 ton press they finally separated

I'm working on this now. Well, I have been for 2 weekends now. Somewhere around 10 or 12 hours cumulative on the drivers side. I've gotten nowhere.



Maybe I'll try a chisel...



On edit: heated for 10 minutes with MAPP, then tried cold chisel. Nothing.



Ryan

 

[wtfd6]

hey Ryan, when I did mine I was scared that I would ruin it. but finally with a large chisel and a bfh it came apart. I had to tap out the holes where the mounting bolts go into the bearing but it came out pretty easy.

mark

 

[rbattelle]

Mark, I've been POUNDING this thing for hours on end with a 4-lb hammer. Plus heating, plus pulling (at least 5 tons), plus some work with the cold chisel. I do have a 3' piece of 1/2" 4340 that I could use as a drift punch with my 14-lb sledge.



I'm considering ordering a new knuckle, ball joints, plus all the necessary tools (ball joint press, oxy/acetylene setup), then cutting the knuckle out like Gregg did.



So much for saving money by doing things yourself. In the end, this job will likely cost me twice what it would have cost to have the (incompetent) dealer do it.



Ryan

 

[Gregg Mig]

Ryan my heart goes out to you, I know your going thru hell with this,if you don't want to ruin your bearings cut the ball joints off take the whole spindle assembly to a good machine shop , make sure you explain to the guy what you want pressed out. I was there with the guy when he did mine and it was a good thing because he was just going to push out the hub without the bearing and flange. Best of luck with your journey. Gregg

 

[Gregg Mig]

one last thing I would not put any heat to it at all in order for the heating process to work you have to get it cherry red, and I don't think your bearings will like that. heating just a little does absolutely nothing but waste time, and the risk of ruining the bearing or seal.

 

[wtfd6]

I wish I had the time to run down and give you a hand Ryan. but as fate has it I need to pull my trans out. first gear clutches went south.


Mark

 

[rbattelle]

I wish I had the time to run down and give you a hand Ryan. but as fate has it I need to pull my trans out. first gear clutches went south.


Mark

Yikes! You got much bigger problems than I do.



I'm done for the weekend - I put it all back together until next weekend. I bought new ball joints, so next weekend I won't be restrained by trying not to destroy the ball joints that are on the truck now. I'll attack the bearing with an air hammer and see where that gets me. If nowhere, then I'll do what Gregg did and cut the knuckle out of the truck.



What a mess.



Ryan

 

[Yo Hoot]

Here is an article I snatched up from TOM



http://www.getdieselpower.com/my04dodge_files1/Front Rotor Dissasembly/3rd_gen_u-joint.htm

 

[Joe Mc]

Sounds like I'm in for some fun . . .

 

[DThibault]

When I did mine, I took and old rim that fit the bolt pattern and wailed it a time or two from the inside with a hammer and it came right off. I've since got around 50000 on the hubs and they are still good . Its not like a steady pull, just a couple of pops and its off.

 

[Houser]

When I did Mine

I freed up the brake rotors by loosening the lug bolts then driving fwd and bkwds then jacking the brakes. once the rotors were off I used the socket and extention\power steering and penetrating oil methode to push out the hubs. I had to soak and retighten and wait a few times to finally get them out but they finally came out and I was able to replace the axle U joints without dammaging the hubs



houser