Starting my hub removal

[seafish]

On my 2005, and a friend's 2006, a heavy duty air hammer with blunt tip was used to work out the wheel bearing from the knuckle. Took the mechanic about 1/2 hour each side to work them out. They were rusty and stuck in real good.

Each time we replaced the whole wheel bearing assemblies with new full assemblies. So we didn't care that the bearing assembly was beat to heck. One mechanic used a few of the bolts but ended up damaging the threads a bit with the air hammer. He just chased them and they worked fine on reassembly.

I am concerned with damaging the PS unit or the structure if the wheel bearing is rusted into the knuckle. If it doesn't come out, what then gives? Someone mentioned spot welds above. I may not have seen that kind of damage to the truck. Just seems risky. You kinda need to be able to steer your truck!

SO far the best advice I have used is to presoak everything down with PB Blaster or Kroil or equivalent penetrating fluid SEVERAL times in the days prior to removal, then use the PS trick to gently and evenly press out the hubs. Obviously if it doesn't move at all after these methods, then you may well have to use heat and a BFH, but I would definitely try the gentler approach first.

 

[shorthorn]

When I did mine last year I used the ps assist and a sledge hammer. I used an 8 pound sledge and it was like hitting an anvil with a rubber mallet. The 16 pound sledge finally moved the hub. Once the hub started moving I put drove a screw driver between the hub and knuckle which helped move the hub. I also presoaked the hub for a couple of weeks before but it didn't seem to help.
Be careful with the power steering method, there are some small spot welds on the frame that can break, at least on my truck they did.

How in the hell did you pop spot welds on the frame? You should be pushing between the end of the axle and the hub? Shouldn't be torqueing the PS gear enough to even be close to breaking the frame!

 

[MGreer]

The method I used was with the bolts in the unit bearing I put a socket and extension on the bolt head. The extension presses against the coil spring/mount. I just looked at it again to be sure, the weld that cracked was one that attaches the coil mount the the axle tube.

 

[shorthorn]

Oh... I see... I pushed against the end of the axle itself... Only about a 3-4" extension (I acually bought the snap-on tool for doing this).

 

[S.Morris]

YEs I have that tool and it works way better than messing around with sockets. worth its weight in gold