Hey guys,

I started pulling everything apart on the left front to replace the axle U-joint there, and everything went smoothly until I tried to to get the hub out of the steering knuckle.

20 years of rust seems to have seized that hub right in there. Tapped it at first, then banged a little harder, but don't want to whale on it since the bearing is in there. Used a block of wood and some decent force, but it's tough to get a good angle on it. Tried using a puller but once it gets tight, it just starts spinning the hub and axle, instead of pulling the hub out of the knuckle. The hub won't budge.

It's killing me too, because everything else came apart in about an hour and I thought I would be able to just slide the axle out, replace the joint and get it back in and be rolling, and now the rust is jamming me up.

Any tips on getting old rusted hubs out without hurting anything. If need be I will replace the wheel bearing, as long as I can get this hub out, the last thing I want to do is put it back together just to take it somewhere.

Thanks,

Mike

Have you tried lots of PB Blaster? For at least a couple of days?

If you've alaready done that, it sounds like it's time for some heat.

we had that same issue here on a 90 xj. it toook us about 8 hours & we ended up breaking a few parts( the knuckle cracked & the wheel bearing split). lots & lots o pb blaster like rob said & tap it with a few choice words ( talk dirty to it). & just remember you can always find dana 30's all over the place.

I have soaked it with PB, but only after banging on it, and it's only been sitting with the PB for a day or so.

I was thinking about putting some heat to it, but I wasn't sure if heat was a good idea. Will heat hurt anything inside the hub, any rubber seals or anything? As long as they are easily replaceable I don't care about melting any seals, just don't want to damage anything that will make this job more of a hassle.

Thanks.

Thanks.

Well, yeah, if you wind up having to put heat to it, I'd plan on replacing all bearings and seals in the heated area.

If you do infact, heat things up. Make sure you soak the heated parts in the purple stuff. Just joking! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" />
Good luck with your truck <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />