Anyone know the recommended / best way to remove our hubs without damaging them? Pics would be great. It seems some places claim a 50% breakage rate and others say it isn't that likely. I've got new U-joints and ball joints on the way but I don't have a spare hub assembly if I should screw it up.

 

IIRC, after you take the caliper off you loosen the 4 bolts holding the hub on. (hub nut already off) When the bolts are loose, say about 1/4" gap behind all four bolts, you can take a hammer and hit the bolt heads till they are touching again. Loosen again, hammer again, loosen again, hammer again, evenly till it comes off.

WARNING: I did not do this! You can at your own risk. I ended up taking mine to a shop and let them get dirty. My hubs were not busted in the replacement (upgrade) of my U-Joints. I hope it was an upgrade, they are now greasable where my originals were not. Those only lasted ~90,000 miles.

 

Dude, just get new hub assemblies. You'll have to replace them in a few months anyway.

Undo the four bolts (18mm if I recall correctly) and then take a big sledge hammer and knock the living hell out of the hubs. They'll come off.

If you are doing balljoints and U joints, you will kick yourself in the butt later if you don't do hub assemblies now too. You are already there and it would take no extra time to put brand new ones on. I think you can possibly get the hub assemblies at parts stores now, not just the dealership... and parts stores do carry hub assemblies with lifetime warranties. Buy those, then you never pay for hubs again.

 

I have been experiencing the clicking noise from the front end that I suspect is the front axle u-joints from reading many of the threads on this site. I also had a reputable garage tell me about 6 months ago one of my ball joints was on it's way out, but I had a little time. The truck is going back to the same shop wednesday to have the tires rotated and verify the clicking noise problem. I was considering doing the total job myself as posted above by djgaston. What are your guys thoughts on these kits to avoid labor charges? Truck is at 98k miles.

http://www.quad4x4.com/Dodge%20Front...%202003-up.htm

 

That's the kit that I have ordered (probably at home right now, I'm on vacation). The only thing is that those ball joints are oem and not greasable.

 

This is what I have found out within the last few days of researching this job through the garage that does a lot of work for me and the quad4x4 web site. Hopefully it will help out someoneone else in the same situation.

The garage in my area (who I trust and has experience with these trucks) has verified that my front axle u-joints are bad as well as the ball joints. They say the hub/bearing assemblies are good and do not recommend replacing them because of the expense. ($345ea.) They have successfully done many axle u-joint and ball joint replacement jobs on these trucks without one ever having come back for front wheel hub/bearings. They are able to remove them without damage and replace them with anti-seize.

When I spoke with quad4x4 on the phone, they (Dan?) also did not recommend replacing the hubs unless they were bad. He also mentioned their hub removal tool can damage the hubs if not careful.

A Dodge dealer in my area has quoted $4400.00 to replace both front hub bearings, 4 ball joints, 2 axle u-joints and front end re-alignment. They claim they have to cut the hubs off.

Oredring the parts and tools through quad4x4 and doing the work myself with no front end alignment. Kit comes with instructional video which would be helpful since I have no experience pulling axles and replacing u-joints. This would be the best bargain if I wanted to replace the hub/bearing assemblies. Plus I would have all the tools. They are very helpful on the phone and have a great website. www.quad4x4.com

Product Price Ea. Total

QK4612 AAM Ball Joint Kit with Tools and Press Set 699.00

QK4597 Axle U-Joint Kit for AAM Axle 119.00

QU10890K 2003-up Dodge AAM Hub 345.95 (ea) 691.90

QT1072 Hub Puller 129.00

Volume Discount USD $ 0.00

UPS Ground Shipping and Handling USD $ 98.45

Total USD $ 1,737.35

The garage in my area can do the job for $1100.00 total. That is based on 8 hours worst case but usually takes about 6. So the total could end up a little less. That includes the 4 ball joints (which are the new oem Dodge design - nothing else available) 2 axle u-joints, front end alignment, tire rotation and labor. I don't have to touch it. I think I'll go with this option.

 

You should be able to get the hub/bearing off without damaging it... I couldn't but people insist it is possible.

The fact is that if you DO use a puller and destroy it, they will come off in 10 minutes.

Also, at $345 you are paying $100 too much for EACH.

http://xj.cdevco.net/auto/3rd_gen_u-joint/