Replacing front u-joints. I have the 4 bolts off the back and cannot get the axle out, even tried to persuade it with a hammer and still no luck. I was wondering if Im missing something or did I just not hit it hard enough.

 

Did you already pull off the HUb Bearing Assembly? Thats what it sounds like you are trying to get off. You have to be really careful to not damage those when removing them, because they arent rebuildable, you have to replace it.

1. Remove the tire/wheel, caliper and rotor first.

2. There are 4 bolts on the back side of the hub, loosen those up and back them out about 1 inch, but leave some threads still in the hub itself.

3. Leave a socket and an extension on the bolt, and start the truck.

4. (It helps to have a helper here) Turn your steering wheel slowly and have the helper guide the socket extension onto a solid point on the frame, and continue to slowly turn the wheel. The power steering will start to push the hub off the steering knuckle.

5. Do this in a cross pattern on each of the four bolts, and after you finish, continue to back the colts out a little more and more each time. they are about 3.5 inches long so you have a ways to go and still have a good amount of thread in the hole so it wont strip out.

Take your time and pay attention and the hub WILL NOT seperate.

I hope I didnt confuse anybody. I should have taken pictures when I did it to post. It is a lot easier than it sounds, and is safer than the actual tool made to pull the hubs, because those often times even seperate the hub. When done correctly, this is guarunteed to work.

Hope this helps. Let me know if you are lost, I will try to explain better.

M Sandt

 

A lot of times the hub will freeze onto its landing and will not want to come out.
If you have already removed the hub and your axle will not come out I would slide a pry bar in and give a gentle pry and it should slide right out with little to no pressure.

 

We finally got it out there was nothing gentle about the whole thing but we did get it done thanks guys.

 

This Post is about a week late I just had to replace driver side axle joint and hub was frozen to the axle,shop said they can't get it out with out destroying the hub.Well 800 later and it's like new,Now I know for next time.
Joe

 

When putting the hub back in make sure to anti-seize the heck out of it so it will just pop right out in the future.