Wheel bearing/hub Assembly

[Sal Lubrano]

I was curious if someone here has a good way to pull front wheel bear/hub assemblies on a 4x4. I had to change one this past weekend and it took a half hour of pounding it from the back with a bfh while my Buddie was slamming the slap hammer at the same time. It finally gave in but after that we both were exhausted. Is there an easier way? Once some rust gets in between the spindle/knuckle and the hub it become frozen.

 

[GNTIM]

There is a tool that uses a bracket mounted to the wheel studs, it has a long bolt that pushes against the C/V joint where it sticks through the hub. Rust is a mofo in these situation.

 

[Sal Lubrano]

I have to look in to this tool. I thought I had the correct tool. I was using a bracket which attached to the wheel studs and in the center a slide hammer screws in.

 

[GNTIM]

You can sometimes use the center bolt from a power steering pulley puller or steering wheel puller with the hub bracket from the slide hammer.

 

[GNeric]

What kind of 4x4? Does it have the large 2 5/16 nut, lockplate and internal nut? Are you trying to hammer that set up off? Just curious. Some of the Toyotas I get to do have the "press" that mounts to the studs and presses the shaft out thru the center like GNTIM said. GM? Ford?

 

[Sal Lubrano]

GM. Tahoe. Independent front suspension. I am a little confused. If you use a hub puller with the spindle nut off all it pushes the cv shaft in the front differential. If you try it with the nut on that is not going to work either because the hub is held in by the axle nut and washer (along with the three bolts from the backside which need to be removed). I could be wrong it is late and I should be sleeping.