The front right wheel bearings are shot in my 2004 Fx4 LII. I've managed to get everything taken apart to get the broken hub out of the steering knuckle but now it's seized/rusted to the steering knuckle and I can't get it out. I've got the axle nut off as well as the 3 bolts that hold the hub to the knuckle.

First question - Would heating the flange on the knuckle help it let go of the hub? Is there anything that I'm going to hurt by heating it?

Second question - Anyone have any other ideas of how to break it free?

Thanks

 

BFH should do the trick.

 

Put the wheel/tire back on and give it a kick or two.

 

Go down to the Bar.
Have a beer. or ten. shoot for ten.
Stumble home, Drunk as a skunk. look at this heaping pile of scrap metal sitting in your driveway/garage.
get extremely angry. So angry that even Germans think twice before crossing you.
Hulk out, Get all Green. Go extreme Bruce Banner.
in one fit of rage, smack the hub/unit.
Go inside, pass out.
Wake up the next morning and it'll be done. Stand around with another beer in your hand, and relive King of the hill by looking and saying "yup"

or, you know. Hammer works too.

 

Dont heat the cast iron


My favorite

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1...7&blockType=G7

 

Hammer works good, I use a air chizzle right on the old hub bearing and just work it back and forth till its loose

 

 

Soaking the studs in pb blaster will help. The pop it with a brass mallet if you have one available. Top the bottom. Just repeat and it will walk out. No real finesse required, just dOnt hit the cv!!!

 

we just replaced mine, the mechanic took the bolts and put them back in slightly and used them as a hammering point. if you used the hub assembly as a hammering point, you will have to replace it as it can separate the bearing. so use the bolts that hold it on. worked like a champ on mine

 

I'm confused here, is the hub/brg assy really rusted to the knuckle or are you having probs disengaging the half shaft from the hub/brg assy? Which means, use a hammer and a wrench setup (get creative if needed, think chain + bar = leverage) to apply torque to separate or use a wheel puller to disengage the 1/2 shaft.

*If you heat the knuckle you will first expand the material on the knuckle, which will only make the fit tighter with the hub/brg. Needs to be the other way around, heat the hub first.

 

The goal of this ordeal IS to replace the hub, so no concerns about damaging it.

The half-shaft is loose in the hub. I can slide it in an out a little bit by just pushing on it with my finger. The problem here is that the hub has rusted/seized to the knuckle.

 

Cold chisel and a mallet did the trick. Thanks for the help. Truck's all fixed up and ready for the road.