Front axle hub removal

[Nelsonmd]

The spanner socket that I purchased worked flawlessly.
But getting the hub pressed out was another story. The 20 Ton press bent any kind of makeshift metal setup I had. A custom welded tool is definitely needed for this project. I decided to go ahead and grab the three jaw puller. I really should have done the modifications suggested but went ahead and tried without. The main drive bolt became cross threaded and the arm brackets ripped right through the bolts.
My roommate finally convinced me to call a shop to get it done at $53 in labor.

Did that include pressing the new one back on? If so, not bad. It was alot of work for me, and yeah, the mods I did are absolutely 100% necessary.

I made a custom press jig using my old sway bar, but it is only a 2 pt contact and a bit unstable in the press. If I had to do this again, I'd make a new jig.

While you got the work done for relatively cheap, I have found that making jigs is a great way to practice welding, and is pretty good fun and quite satisfying. If you have a press and want to be able to use it, I highly recommend getting a cheap HF welder and making your own jigs.

 

[Mynameistommy510]

Did that include pressing the new one back on? If so, not bad. It was alot of work for me, and yeah, the mods I did are absolutely 100% necessary.

I made a custom press jig using my old sway bar, but it is only a 2 pt contact and a bit unstable in the press. If I had to do this again, I'd make a new jig.

While you got the work done for relatively cheap, I have found that making jigs is a great way to practice welding, and is pretty good fun and quite satisfying. If you have a press and want to be able to use it, I highly recommend getting a cheap HF welder and making your own jigs.

It did included pressing in the new bearing. I figured $53 to save me from this PIA was well worth it, even though I'm a firm believer in staying away from shops. Especially after seeing the press work done to my rear axle shafts, but that's another project story.

It's funny that you mentioned the HF welder NelsonMD. I've been highly considering picking one of these up to make custom jigs for future projects and to help friends out. Not having a welder truly limits possibilities and not to mention how much more useful the HF press will be with the jigs I can make.

 

[Doc2012]

When I did mine, I used this:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000NPPB2E/ref=redir_mdp_mobile/188-1466781-4259720

And put it on the HUB side of the spindle. Then laid it across the press, and used a piece of 2" square to press the bearing out and back in.

Worked perfectly for me.

 

[Mynameistommy510]

When I did mine, I used this:

TEKTON 5704 Bearing Separator and Puller Set:Amazon:Home Improvement

And put it on the HUB side of the spindle. Then laid it across the press, and used a piece of 2" square to press the bearing out and back in.

Worked perfectly for me.

That tool must be pretty strong. No damage to it?

 

[Doc2012]

Nope.

You've got to make sure it's supported. I put it across the opening to on the press, if that makes sense.

The bolts with obviously bend if they're not supported.

All it's going to do is make sure the hub comes out of the bearing, and then you press the bearing out after that.

Then just do it in reverse, but you don't need that to put the hub back in.

 

[Nelsonmd]

It did included pressing in the new bearing. I figured $53 to save me from this PIA was well worth it, even though I'm a firm believer in staying away from shops. Especially after seeing the press work done to my rear axle shafts, but that's another project story.

It's funny that you mentioned the HF welder NelsonMD. I've been highly considering picking one of these up to make custom jigs for future projects and to help friends out. Not having a welder truly limits possibilities and not to mention how much more useful the HF press will be with the jigs I can make.

I also like avoiding shops, but I do strongly support an a la carte service economy for this stuff, so if they will give you a reasonable price for specific services like this, then that is very good for the consumer, because it gives us options without having to invest in equipment or time that we don't want to.

The bad thing is when shops refuse to give a reasonable price for specific services like this because they either don't want the liability (which shouldn't be on them anyway) or they want to force you into a full vehicle service for much more money, or because the OEM's want to force you to their shops (right to repair).

I'm just glad to hear you were able to get it done a la carte.