2004 Yukon front hub removal

[Throbbin Rods]

Trying to pull the left front hub out of my 2004 Yukon Denali as ythe bearing is bad. I have done at least 20 of these over the years and always got them apart without too mich trouple. Except for today
Got all the bolts off, caliper off, caliper bracket off etc. Trying to get the hub loose from the housing and it isn't budging. I am the first one to admit I can't swing a hammer the way I could when I was 25 but I can't even budge it. Can't drive a screwdriver in the crack. Air chisel won't break it loose. Swinging a hammer won't break it loose. Any tricks or tips that anyone has would be very much appreciated.

 

[never enuf time]

Have you tried a puller on hub with threaded part to the end of cv joint ? Appy pressure with & heat,beat, or spray.

 

[TommyK]

air hammer

 

[Throbbin Rods]

Have you tried a puller on hub with threaded part to the end of cv joint ? Appy pressure with & heat,beat, or spray.

I haven't because I don't want to damage the shaft and cv joint. I will give it a shot. I just always worry about the CV joint.
Thanl you!

 

[sweetk30]

had a few unit bearings rust in so bad i had to pull the knuckle and press it out in a shop press .

i always clean out the hole and anti-seize the rap out of the new ones .

 

[Skyking1992]

I assume four wheel drive. If not, then disregard.

You can put a nut on the shaft and give it a few blows with a lead hammer to insure that the shaft is free. If the shaft is free, then the bearing assembly is likely corroded into the knuckle. You may have to disconnect the upper or lower ball joint to get the shaft out of the bearing. At that point you can use a puller and some heat to get the bearing assembly loose. If that fails, remove the other ball joint and take the knuckle/ bearing assembly into the shop to remove on the press.

 

[Wrench97]

Drive a stud or two out and use a long bolt and nut to press from the hub to the spindle.
You may need to use several washer if your bolt is not fully threaded.

 

[JHenke]

 

[Throbbin Rods]

Thanks to all for the suggestions. So far I have bolts through the stud holes and the only thing that appears to be happening is that the bearing migt be coming apart. I tried heating the thing with all the force the bolts could muster and nothing is happening. I may have to burn the vehicle. Fixed all my own vehicles since I was 16, first time I couldn't get the job done at 65. Discouraging. Bringing back the wrong part and getting the right one, then going to try a few more tricks. I even tried to hit it a lick with a sledge hammer but I couldn't get a good swing. AARRGGHH!!

 

[Wrench97]

Heat usually does not help on these, by the time you get the spindle hot enough you have also heated up the bearing asmb.

Last resort is to pull the spindle and press it out.

 

[Buckgnarly]

Spin the bearing in the knuckle by hitting the ears where the bolts attach....either air hammer or chisel/punch. I've gotten a bunch of tough ones this way.

 

[510ebl]

Heat usually does not help on these, by the time you get the spindle hot enough you have also heated up the bearing asmb.

Last resort is to pull the spindle and press it out.

Last resort is replacing the spindle and bearing as an assembly

 

[like2wheel]

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00JRPCBJ2/?tag=atomicindus08-20



Sent from my iPhone using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[BlakeTheCarGuy]

Did you try a slide hammer? That’s what always separates the hub from the knuckle assembly I’ve never had an issue with it not working.


Sent from my iPhone using Garage Journal

 

[tyyost]

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00JRPCBJ2/?tag=atomicindus08-20

I had a similar thread a few weeks back about doing the same thing on an Explorer unit bearing. The general consensus was a good air hammer on the ears of the bearing to twist it to break the rust bond, or consider a hub shocker kind of tool. I had an Astro big nasty in my cart online but we were able to get the dealership to do the repair n/c.

Tools like the hub shocker exist for applications like yours - breaking lots of years of rust loose from hubs. Otherwise I think you are in for a beating, on your body and the hub.

 

[Throbbin Rods]

I am going to invest one more hour in this. If it isn't apart by then I am buying a new spindle. Thanks to all for the suggestions

 

[FSrepair&fabrication]

Put a floor jack under the flange where the wheel studs are, jack it up so its off the stands and all the pressure is on the hub. Hit it repeatedly with the heaviest sledge you got. It will pop eventually.

 

[2ndGearRubber]

had a few unit bearings rust in so bad i had to pull the knuckle and press it out in a shop press .

i always clean out the hole and anti-seize the rap out of the new ones .

I've had the knuckles break before the hubs move.


I prefer to melt them out when the hub shocker and big nasty fail.

 

[skulldrinker]

You need a real air hammer nothing less tban a 3050. With high flow fittings.

Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk

 

[skulldrinker]

Or this with a sledgehammer.

Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk

 

[Throbbin Rods]

Today I tried 3 pieces of threaded rod with nuts and washers through the stud holes. Kept turning one nut at a time and it eventually pulled the sleeve of the hub right out of the inner bearing, leaving the bearing still in the spindle. 1 cotter pin, 3 nuts and about 6 whacks with a hammer later the knuckle was laying under the truck. Ordered spindle and hub and looking forward to putting it back together more easily. Thanks again for all the suggestions

 

[jayoldschool]

Now that the spindle is off, the remaining bearing will pop right out when you hit it from the back.