khsjeepr

After a friend of mine as well as myself (an '02 Dodge and an '06 Dodge) were both unsuccessful with the power steering method to press out the unit bearings, I became intrigued about what the success rate of this method actually is. Please vote using the poll if you were successful or not. If unsuccessful, how did you get the unit bearings out and was any damage incurred while doing so?

jlipskoc

I just did my ujoints and bj's this past weekend. Used the p/s method, it was the only way. My truck came from Minnesota, so you can imagine 3 years of winter what it looked like. Took me twice as long due to the rust. My 94, I did the same thing, but almost no rust.

I penetrated it overnight with pb blaster. Antisiezed the heck out of everything for next time.

When you use the p/s, pulse the wheel, don't just pull it over and hold it, jerk it hard, then let up, repeat, you will hear a pop, make sure to use a 18mm impact hardened socket and extension. Then back each bolt out another 1/4 inch and repeat.

Snap-on Tools makes a hub remover 18mm extended socket specifically for dodge hubs, it maybe work $44 to you.

Do not use a puller it will seperate the bearing. Don't use heat cause it will ruin the seals. Air hammers will cause damage. Beating on the bolt with a hammer will damage the head of the bolt.

Take it from a guy who's done this a few times, PB/or other penetrating lube, let it sit a while then fire away.

You will not damage anything if done correctly. Only back out the bolt 1/4 inch at at time, back it out squarely, leave the big axle nut on so the hub won't pop off into the floor. You might have a ding on the frame, but thats piddly.

I refuse to pay $600-700 per side to someone else in labor just to do what you can do yourself with simple hand tools.

jlipskoc

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item....group_ID=21345

Jim O

I used the powersteering method with penitrating oil as well.
Jim O

1985cucv

i made my own puller out of c channel and pressed them off via a really strong bolt the ps method didnt work mine were really on there! oh and after you get them on make sure you grease them every oil change or 2 then you wont have to worry about it

khsjeepr

What are you talking about, greasing them every oil change or two? We too ended up using a homemade puller and a porto power to press against the axle end. I was very resistant about doing so, but we were both successful in getting them out w/out damaging the bearings.

Perhaps the pulsing motion would have helped in getting the unit bearings off. I guess I just eased into it. That said, the power steering isn't a press so I can't imagine "shocking it" with sudden movements is particularly good for it?!

jlipskoc

There have been posts in the forums about removing the abs sensor, then force greese thru that hole, you will need something that can seal and force grease at the same time, like a rubber tip from a air hose blower.

You will still need to take the wheel, brake caliper and rotor off to get to the sensor, pull back the metal flap and remove the abs, you will see the abs toothed ring inside the hole with grease on it.

Its been battled/discussed and throw back and forth alot, its really a user preference on if its good or not good. IMO I really don't have a conclusive answer as to greasing it like this.

jlipskoc

Sometimes you can ease into it, some you can't. I can ease into mine if they were antiseized prior. My 94, I've pulled the hub several times after antiseize, just ease it and it slides out.

Now if they never been antiseized/greesed, you *may* have to jerk/pulse it. All the forces go to the hub outer metal of the bearing. I see no way to hurt anything. I really don't see how you can hurt your power steering or tie rods/linkage.

Your not throwing your weight on the wheel really with two hands, just pull from noon to 3 oclock semi fast with one hand.

Sometimes raise the rpm to 1.2k or so, that will add more pressure to the pump and make it work easier.

khsjeepr

Good info. I didn't realize you were referring to greasing the unit bearings through the ABS sensor. I have searched and researched on that and also am indifferent about doing the grease trick. Regardless, the bearings are out, and I will be applying antiseize very liberally in hopes that in the future they will come apart using the power steering method.

Guardrail

I think the soaking with penetrating oil overnight method is key. I didn't have that long to wait so I used the air hammer method with limited success. I did have to chase the treads on the bearing to get the bolts back in though. I also put the wheel back on with the bearing bolts loose and let the lift down to get some pressure on the wheel. I then turned the wheel back and forth several times to break it loose. It took lots of penetrating oil, several beers and a few choice words, but I got it out.