Removing hub assembly?
 

I've got everything broke down to the hubs but was wondering the best way to get them off. I've got the spindle nut off and bolts on the back out. Soaked her in lube and can't get it to budge.

Can I use a gear puller on the hub itself to pull the whole assembly out of the knuckle? Or might that damage the bearings in the hub?

For those of you that have put lifts on or pulled your hubs before. How did you pull your hubs off?

2003 4x4

Thanks.

Mine came right out I believe. Otherwise I MIGHT have just used a hammer and tapped the lug studs lightly.

Now that I think about it... I pulled the knuckle off the truck so the hub was stil in the knuckle, and I think laid it on the floor or something and knocked it out. Wasn't hard at all.. I know it wasn't one of the problems i had.

I've tried using a hammer to knock it loose. I just don't want to mess it up by beating on it too much.

I thought about this, but have yet to try it.

You just have to be careful. Its tricky to get the upper and lower balljoints un-seized with that CV shaft limiting movement.

Try pulling the knuckle and getting it out. SHouldn't be too hard.

take a chisel and wedge it between the hub and the spindle, keep working it around the hub until it comes loose.

http://img512.imageshack.us/img512/8086/dcp14703xx5.jpg
Something like this? Would that pull out the entire assembly or just pull the hub off?

After searching last night and couldn't find anything. I found this this morning.

I was trying to use a flathead with no luck. A chisel definitely might work better.

Nah in that picture it looks like it would push the CV in out of the hub, instead of pulling the hub from the knuckle.

a flathead screwdrive will work if as long as you don't care about it and beat the piss out it to wedge it in there.

Also you did unbolt the hub from the spindle right?

As for that pic I don't know if I would do that it is going to put a lot of stress on the cv's.

Yeah, everything is unbolted.

I guess I just need to quit being a pansy and beat the hell out it. lol

Thanks.

yeah with you having a 03 they are going to be rusted in there. What are you replacing that you need to take it off?

start but wedging it by where each bolt goes through.

Installing the RCD kit. Yeah, you're telling me. Just about everything has been giving me fits.

Trail by fire!!! :blackeye:

Thanks.

do you have a air chisel?

Sure don't or any air tools for that matter. It would make life so much easier.

just take you time it will come apart.

Shouldn't hurt to spray some PB Blaster or the like, around the hub. If nothing else, to reduce friction..

It's been soaking in all night. Hopefully it will come off tonight. Screw that, IT'S COMING OFF TONIGHT!!! :drillserg

prop the knuckle up and face the lugs to the ground, then thread those 3 bolts back in some and hit the head of the bolt with a 3lb hammer, slowly go around and it should knock it loose.

i am assuming you have the knuckle off the truck right?

I don't think he does yet...

Yeah Beard had a good idea, about threading those bolts in part of the way. I did the same thing to take the ring gear off my differential. Just hit each bolt, and go around in a pattern, shouldn't take long.

That beotch is coming out tonight, no argument haha.

Not yet. I need to get a ball joint tool.

for which balljoint?

upper or lower?

both should come out without a tool. the lower, thread the nut on until its flush, then hit the end, also hit the part of the knuckle that the stud is in. it will come out.

the upper take a pry bar and force up on the upper control arm while hitting the knuckle with the 3lb hammer. it will come loose too.

I have installed and uninstalled atleast 6-8 superlift kits and have taken that crap apart another 6-8 times besides that on my own truck, not once have I used a special tool.

A big hammer is all you really need. :)

BE CAREFUL when trying to get that lower balljoint loose. If you've already got the upper out, and you hit and knock the knuckle off the lower balljoint, it'll want to fall off the truck (assuming you've got the Tie Rod End disconnected already). Be ready to catch it or something, it doesnt need to hit the floor... But also be ware that you still ahve the CV shaft running through the hub, and you don't want to damage the CV shaft when the knuckle comes loose...

Lower. I think I'm gonna buy the MOOG upper control arms with the ball joints already installed.

I figured you could just beat it out, but thought the tool would make it easier. I'll try that. Thanks.

Yeah, I've got the TRE off already. I've loosened the pinch bolt but didn't remove it yet to keep the knuckle from falling off. I'm gonna tie it off so hopefully it won't go anywhere.