Wheel Bearing Hub assembly removal

[cummins724]

I forget who sent me a pm asking how to remove the wheel bearing hub assembly without damage? I figured I'd take some pics today as I removed mine for brake/rotor change.

Here is a picture of the groove where I use a punch to knock the hub loose from the knuckle. I use a punch, the groove gives direct access to the back of the hub. I just smack the punch with a 2lb sledge & it usually breaks free pretty easily.





If the hub doesn't break free, I hit the back of the bearing with a dull chisel. The back of the bearing is covered with antisieze in this pic. It sits directly behind the axle & easily accessible.





Before installing the bearing back into the knuckle, I sand the knuckle & bearing rib with 80 grit to remove any rust, then coat with antisieze.





I hope this helps somebody.

 

[smoken02]

I beat the crap out of mine. Sparyed it with penetrating oil and put a gear puller on it. All that did was pull the wheel hub out of the bearing assembly. Now I have the unit bearing with one bearing missing and no wheel hub still stuck in the steering knuckle.:bang

 

[NEsmoker]

Loosen the four bolts for the hub and leave them half way in. Put a socket and 6 inch extension on it and start the truck and turn the steering wheel so the ext hits the axle knuckle and let the power steering puch it out like a press. Help to have a second set of hands for this. But this trick always worked for me, pops the most stuborn hubs out easily.

 

[mondtster]

Loosen the four bolts for the hub and leave them half way in. Put a socket and 6 inch extension on it and start the truck and turn the steering wheel so the ext hits the axle knuckle and let the power steering puch it out like a press. Help to have a second set of hands for this. But this trick always worked for me, pops the most stuborn hubs out easily.

I've never used the power steering to do it, but I've always used the socket on the bolts method and a BFH. They have always come out for me without an issue doing it this way. It is a mystery to me why there are so many people who always seem to have trouble pulling the unit bearings out of these trucks without damaging them.

Using a gear puller or some similar method is a surefire way to screw them up IMHO.

 

[smoken02]

I've never used the power steering to do it, but I've always used the socket on the bolts method and a BFH. They have always come out for me without an issue doing it this way. It is a mystery to me why there are so many people who always seem to have trouble pulling the unit bearings out of these trucks without damaging them.

Using a gear puller or some similar method is a surefire way to screw them up IMHO.

The only reason I used a gear puller was the bearing was shot anyways. When the bearing went it got hot and the bearing gauge came out while I was driving it.

 

[Highfinance97]

Loosen the four bolts for the hub and leave them half way in. Put a socket and 6 inch extension on it and start the truck and turn the steering wheel so the ext hits the axle knuckle and let the power steering puch it out like a press. Help to have a second set of hands for this. But this trick always worked for me, pops the most stuborn hubs out easily.

X2

Thats what we do

 

[mondtster]

The only reason I used a gear puller was the bearing was shot anyways. When the bearing went it got hot and the bearing gauge came out while I was driving it.

I wasn't directing this specifically at you, I was just saying that I have heard of TONS of people trying to use a gear puller and every one of those same people complains that they ruined their hub too. Then they complain about Dodge's "bad design" when it was what they did that screwed it up.

 

[BgBlDodge]

I beat the snot out of mine with a hammer until it decided to give up.