So I was driving down the road yesterday and the front left wheel locked up @ about 50mph. After I had it towed home I took the hub off and found what I expected to find... moisture and rust. Anyway, my question is, I've got the two nut and washer off so if it was a normal wheel bearing job, the outer bearing and/or rotor would slide off at this point. I'm assuming that the wheel bearing has somewhat welded itself to the spindle, and I am wondering if anyone has any ideas of how to get the wheel bearing off the spindle? Or am I going to have to go more in depth into the front end? Let me know. Thanks.

same thing happened to my buddys truck, he had to replace the spindle too.

I had this happen on my Rover. Thankfully it was the outer bearing welded to the spindle. I used the tire for leverage, slammed it outward several times and finally the outer bearing popped free. Use penetrating oil and heat, separately, but most of all be extremely careful. Please. It's easy to pull it enough to move the jackstands.

I then cleaned up the spindle best I could w/ fine grit sandpaper and steel wool and used new bearings, it lasted.

With all the folks going SAS, it may be easier, cheaper, and safer to just buy a new-to-you spindle assembly though.

If I can't get the tire trick to work, how easy is it to pull the half shaft through the other way by disconnecting from the diff? Also, what will be the best way to do this as far as things to disconnect or remove that will make it easier. Thanks.

Pulling the CV is easy, once you get the 6 studs out. You'll obviously need to disconnect your swaybar, shock, tie rod end, and balljoints to yank the spindle.

We have a front end article in our maintenance section, and a factory service manual sticky'd here.

You'll also need to rent a torque wrench if you don't have one.

autozone also rents a spindle puller that threads onto a slide hammer if all else fails. the dont know they have it just ask for a 4wd spindle puller

Thanks for all the advice guys. Well I finally got the hub off the spindle by cutting through the spindle and into the bearing and cutting everything into pieces. The spindle is shot obviously but I'll be ordering one of those shortly from Roger Brown. Think I'll be able to salvage the hub. But I did crack the rotor trying to press out spindle, so I'll get a good used one or a new one from NAPA. Guess I'll be keeping an eye on my bearings and watching my mud puddles a little more carefully. Thanks again for all the help.