How to remove Hub stuck seized in rear wheel bearing?

911Freak · 11-04-2012, 10:12 AM

As you can see in these pics, I'm R&R my rear wheel bearings. I have the axle flange off the rear hub, but the hub is stuck on the inner wheel bearing race. I've used a BFH and drive tool similar to the Porsche specific tool used to drive the hub out of the bearing. No luck so far. It's been soaking in Gibbs and P Blaster over night, no luck.

I don't see how I could use any type of puller either as the puller wouldn't have anything to counter hold against.

I don't see how heat would work as this is the inner bearing race and hub.

Get a bigger hammer? I'm worried about damaging the hub & splines where the drive tool strikes against and where the hub meets the axle flange...

Any ideas, suggestions? You might be able to see the rusty colored surface on the back side where the hub meets the inner bearing race, looks rusted on to me. Spraying Gibbs in there a rusty paste comes out

TIA
Jason

Danny_Ocean · 11-04-2012, 10:19 AM

Removing stuck rear hub

911Freak · 11-04-2012, 10:25 AM

Man I swear I did a search! Seriously!

Thanks Ocean

I will report back

911Freak · 11-04-2012, 10:36 AM

Read through that linked thread and not sure there's a solution there other then trying to get a bearing spreader and try to put it between the hub and the 4 bolts that hold down the bearing retainer.

Would that work or damage the hub and or bearing retainer?

Slide hammer is no go too.

????

zippy_gg · zippy_gg's Garage

I got two 24" crowbars from HF and with some persuasion the hubs came out.
I was able to remove the driver side by myself but needed my trusted helper for the passenger side, each armed with a crowbar.
So maybe you need a second set of hands if your hub is seized like mine was.

911Freak · 11-04-2012, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zippy_gg

I got two 24" crowbars from HF and with some persuasion the hubs came out.
I was able to remove the driver side by myself but needed my trusted helper for the passenger side, each armed with a crowbar.
So maybe you need a second set of hands if your hub is seized like mine was.

Thanks Zippy, where did you place the pry bars? Between the back side of hub and bolt heads of bearing retainer?

zippy_gg · zippy_gg's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by 911Freak

Thanks Zippy, where did you place the pry bars? Between the back side of hub and bolt heads of bearing retainer?

Yes, that's exactly what I did. The reason I needed a second set of hands is that it was difficult to hole the pry bars so they don't move AND applying force at the same time. Much easier with 2 people so each can focus on 1 bar only.

DRACO A5OG · DRACO A5OG's Garage

On the Suspension arm, I used a sacrifical Deep socket dia of the bearing, used a small heavy sledge and it eventually popped right out

The bearing on the hub need a 3 pronged puller, a channel lock to keep the puller in place as it pressed it out.

911Freak · 11-04-2012, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zippy_gg

Yes, that's exactly what I did. The reason I needed a second set of hands is that it was difficult to hole the pry bars so they don't move AND applying force at the same time. Much easier with 2 people so each can focus on 1 bar only.

Thanks, will give it a try and report back!

Btw I saw your engine drop thread, congrats!

I'm right up the valley from you in West Hills, if you need a hand or any tools etc send me a PM. SFV Pelicans take care of each other!

Jason

DRACO A5OG · DRACO A5OG's Garage

I'll be in the valley today around 1:30, you want me to stop by to give you a hand?

zippy_gg · zippy_gg's Garage

Do you want to borrow my crowbars?
PM me your number...

john walker's workshop · 11-04-2012, 05:18 PM

two BIG/LONG prybars with the tips against the bolt heads under the flange and reef outward. or a bigass slide hammer.

911Freak · 11-05-2012, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DRACO A5OG

I'll be in the valley today around 1:30, you want me to stop by to give you a hand?

Dang, sorry I missed this offer! Could really have helped.

911Freak · 02:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zippy_gg

Do you want to borrow my crowbars?
PM me your number...

Thanks Gilles, I have 2 24" pry bars and they aren't working, think I pulled a shoulder muscle wrenching on them last night!
Thanks again for the offer!

911Freak · 11-05-2012, 02:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by john walker's workshop

two BIG/LONG prybars with the tips against the bolt heads under the flange and reef outward. or a bigass slide hammer.

Thanks for the tips John! I've seen you post in almost every rear wheel bearing removal thread

But, alas, the pry bars, whacking it with a drift from the back side with tension on the hub hasn't budged this hub one iota

I even bought a large 4" bearing separator and clamped that sucker down, but it binds on the bearing retainer bolts and can't get closed enough to wedge the tool in far enough to pop it loose!

I even drove a drift from the back side on the inner bearing race while the bearing separator was cranked down with zero results...

Not sure what to do now

I think I'll try heat, but I'm worried that heating only the inner race so it expands off the hub will be impossible. I expect the heat to expand the entire bearing and still be stuck to the swing arm because of the bearing retainer bolts can't come all the way off which keeps the entire hub locked in place...

Suggestion? I'm at a loss...

For tools I have:
2 x 24" pry bars
2 x 10" wedge irons (not the golfing type)
1 x 4" bearing separator
1 x 2" & 3" bearing puller and bearing separators
3lb BFH
Propane torch (small canister type from Home Depot, not MAPP gas)

Am I going to have to apply pressure from bearing separator and heat the back side up with my propane torch nuking the bearing seal and drive the snot out of it until it pops?

Any other ideas other then a flaming mess? Hot mess?

Applying tension for driving it out from backside, didn't work.

The string is to keep the hub from flying at my shins if it came off...
4" bearing separator.

john walker's workshop · 11-05-2012, 02:52 PM

go rent a monster slide hammer, with a flange that you can attach with lug nuts.

zippy_gg · zippy_gg's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by 911Freak

Applying tension for driving it out from backside, didn't work.

The string is to keep the hub from flying at my shins if it came off...
4" bearing separator.

If you look at what is left of the bearings in the control arm you will see that your method cannot work.

Driver side: the hub came out clean and the entire bearing is still in place

Passenger side: the hub came out with half the bearing on it; that where you use the bearing splitter to pull the half stuck on it.

In my case since the hubs are off I can focus on removing the bearings, or whatever part is left of them, from the arms using a sliding hammer as JW suggested, or other tools.

zippy_gg · zippy_gg's Garage

PM sent!

john walker's workshop · 07:22 PM

the slide hammer is to get the hubs out of the bearings, not to get the bearings out of the arm. now you need the bearing puller tool. the inner race that remains on the hub is removed by clamping the hub in a vise and with a face mask and gloves, use a big chisel in the seam between race and hub, hitting directly downward with a big hammer to create a gap. next, either use two giant "pussy foot" levers to finish the job or clamp a two piece press plate under it and press it off. dress any chisel damage to the hub with a file. use the bearing tool to reinstall the bearing and finally the hub. support the inner half of the inner race as you pull the hub in or it will come out and ruin the bearing.

James Brown · James Brown's Garage

you do have a bearing puller, right?