What did I do to my front axle while removing hub?

[verf]

‘06 Rubi Unlimited…
Removed the spindle hardware and the 3 hub bolts, but neither hub budged. Tried brake cleaner, PB Blast, hammer and then opted to open up the slide hammer…
Without thinking, I grabbed the front hub puller, but instead of the slide, I used the center bolt to push on the axle end. Yeah…
Yeah, I know, wasn’t thinking. Now it’s hard to rotate. And of course the hub is still frozen on the knuckle.
Just wasn’t thinking. I’d appreciate any insight as to what I damaged and exactly how dang hard I need to beat these hubs or put a chisel between the hub and plate?
Thanks in advance!

 

[mrblaine]

‘06 Rubi Unlimited…
Removed the spindle hardware and the 3 hub bolts, but neither hub budged. Tried brake cleaner, PB Blast, hammer and then opted to open up the slide hammer…
Without thinking, I grabbed the front hub puller, but instead of the slide, I used the center bolt to push on the axle end. Yeah…
Yeah, I know, wasn’t thinking. Now it’s hard to rotate. And of course the hub is still frozen on the knuckle.
Just wasn’t thinking. I’d appreciate any insight as to what I damaged and exactly how dang hard I need to beat these hubs or put a chisel between the hub and plate?
Thanks in advance!

Turn the stub so the yoke is horizontal. Turn the knuckle so you can get a socket or bolt in, then use the steering wheel to turn back against it. Few alternating cycles of that will push any stuck hub out.

 

[verf]

Hubs are out, other side was much easier.
Should I remove the axles and if so, what should I inspect?
Anything special before putting the axle shaft back in?
Thanks again! It’s much appreciated!

 

[williambmac]

Turn the stub so the yoke is horizontal. Turn the knuckle so you can get a socket or bolt in, then use the steering wheel to turn back against it. Few alternating cycles of that will push any stuck hub out.

View attachment 620064

Thats a great idea.

 

[DuckNut]

I would change the seal at a minimum. Most likely change the joints as well. It is all apart, so it's a good time to do a complete job.

 

[mrblaine]

I would change the seal at a minimum. Most likely change the joints as well. It is all apart, so it's a good time to do a complete job.

What seal are you referring to?

 

[macleanflood]

Check the axle splines for deformation. Anything not straight on the splines indicates twisting.

I put antisieze around my hubs to make sure they don't stick to my knuckles. I'd clean all that up and maybe treat it with rust converter, prime and paint it.

-Mac

 

[Rickyd]

Hopefully the front differential didn't get messed up by having the axleshaft jammed into it. Those aren't serviceable and aren't particularly strong.

 

[DuckNut]

What seal are you referring to?

The one on the shaft preventing tube from filling with dirt.

 

[Weasellee]

The one on the shaft preventing tube from filling with dirt.

You mean the plastic oil slinger? The axle seal is in the other end of the axle tube.

 

[jjvw]

You mean the plastic oil slinger? The axle seal is in the other end of the axle tube.

The plastic oil slinger is a guide disc to help you line the shaft up with the center section. There is no oil available for it to sling and I have only seen it on factory shafts.

 

[mrblaine]

Hubs are out, other side was much easier.
Should I remove the axles and if so, what should I inspect?
Anything special before putting the axle shaft back in?
Thanks again! It’s much appreciated!

View attachment 620079

View attachment 620080

View attachment 620081

Hear needs to look at how that unit bearing comes apart.

 

[Ashim]

I would pull the shafts and replace the U-joints while you have the hubs off.

 

[verf]

Found light scoring on the passenger side. I don’t have an indicator, but I couldn’t feel any ridges with finger tip/fingernail. Will it be ok if I replace the seal? It’s a Dana 44.
You guys have been a great help to me and it’s really appreciated!

 

[CJ with a TJ]

Turn the stub so the yoke is horizontal. Turn the knuckle so you can get a socket or bolt in, then use the steering wheel to turn back against it. Few alternating cycles of that will push any stuck hub out.

View attachment 620064

I really could've used this handy dandy info last week, but I'll store it in the ol' noggin for future use. Appreciate the tip!!!

 

[mrblaine]

I really could've used this handy dandy info last week, but I'll store it in the ol' noggin for future use. Appreciate the tip!!!

It has been posted 100's of times since we first started doing it that way 20 years ago. Jeep forums are Groundhog day in that we wake up in a brand new world every single day and little of the communal knowledge gets shared like it should.

 

[CJ with a TJ]

It has been posted 100's of times since we first started doing it that way 20 years ago. Jeep forums are Groundhog day in that we wake up in a brand new world every single day and little of the communal knowledge gets shared like it should.

Yup, most forums are the same thing. New guys ask the same questions that have been asked 100's of times, they never use the search feature.

My excuse was that I was focused on the U-Joints themselves, because in every video that I watched the axle and hub assembly pulled off the knuckle easy peezy. I was lied to!!!

.... Any tips for the rear track bar, the T-55 bolt on the driver's side?

 

[Gerty21]

It has been posted 100's of times since we first started doing it that way 20 years ago. Jeep forums are Groundhog day in that we wake up in a brand new world every single day and little of the communal knowledge gets shared like it should.

I found a description of doing that on a Cherokee forum using a google search about a month ago when hub and knuckle didn't want to uncouple. Your picture and description of how to align the yoke horizontally is better than a the top down view there though. Dead simple, mechanical advantage from steering ==> big f'ing hammer for getting hubs unstuck. Big hammer and hit it harder have their place, but makes me nervous around bearings.

Thanks for posting that pic and technique even if it's been posted 100's of times. Learning the ins and outs of this forum and how to effectively search on here vs. more widely on google has made our recent Jeep projects way more efficient. This place is a phenomenal resource for hobby mechanics like me and my 17-year-old.

 

[mrblaine]

I found a description of doing that on a Cherokee forum using a google search about a month ago when hub and knuckle didn't want to uncouple. Your picture and description of how to align the yoke horizontally is better than a the top down view there though. Dead simple, mechanical advantage from steering ==> big f'ing hammer for getting hubs unstuck. Big hammer and hit it harder have their place, but makes me nervous around bearings.

Thanks for posting that pic and technique even if it's been posted 100's of times. Learning the ins and outs of this forum and how to effectively search on here vs. more widely on google has made our recent Jeep projects way more efficient. This place is a phenomenal resource for hobby mechanics like me and my 17-year-old.

While I get more grief than one deserves if I claim to have invented something, all I'll say is until I did it and posted how to do it that way, I'd never seen it done before. Lest we forget, pics were not that easy to post back then. Digital cameras were just becoming common, uploading required your own page or upload them to something like a hosting service like Photobucket, and then to get them into a post you had to type in image tags before and after and hope it stuck.

Now it is as simple as cut and paste which is where the above pic came from on our page.

 

[mrblaine]

.... Any tips for the rear track bar, the T-55 bolt on the driver's side?

Lower the axle for access and find someone with a welder.