so i have gathered all the much needed parts (four ball joints, front u-joints, and front brakes.) and started taking things apart. i can't for the life of me get the four hub bolts off of the hub! ideas? i have used two different impacts and old fashoned breaker bar approch. all i have to show for it it a rounded off bolt.

also while under the truck i saw i also have a blown front driveshaft u-joint. up in the double cardan joint. is this a serviceable unit?

need help, very frustrated... thanks

 

haha welcome to the club the hub is hard to get to come off you can start the truck and turn the wheel with the 4 bolts almost all the way out. prop a socket against the frame and with the strenth of the ps pump and the pressure on the bolts they will come off check this out this will help ya

https://www.dieseltruckresource.com/...t=hub+bearings

 

If he could get the nuts loose it might help.

I hope you are using 6-point sockets, 12-point will round things off real quick.

Get a good pentrating oil like PB Blaster and let them soak overnight. Put a cheater bar on the breaker bar.

Yes you can rebuild the DC, not easy but it can be done.

 

yea, soaked in pb blaster, switched to 6 point after i saw one rounded. (wasn't paying attention)

going to try again today...

 

Any luck?

 

all but one. it's rounded and i have a round off socket thats gripping it fine, but it's 3/8'' drive, so i have an adapter to 1/2'' and have broken two adapters, a rachet, and an air rachet.

any new ideas?

also i can't seem to get the u-joint pressed out of the passanger side axle shaft. i even have a ball joint/u-joint press (you know the big c-clamp thing) this truck is frustrating me!

 

well finally got that bolt off, and can't get the hub off now. this sucks!

 

How are you trying to get the hub off? The above method? I find the best way is put a puller on it pretty tight say 200ft lbs, hit the hub all the way around, take off the puller move it to anther spot and repeat. If you are hitting it hard in the right spots it will come off no problem. If your good on the hammer, don't even need a puller.

 

just don't separate the hub or you will be buying more part$. the power steering press method worked better for me. if your still working on the u-joint add heat while trying to press it out and tap the ear with a hammer as you tighten the press. just don't bend the ear or you will need a new inner axle shaft (don't ask how i know).

 

yea, doing the power steering method. got the hub most of the way out but working it slowly...

this brings me to my next thing. so my buddy has two front wheel bearings that he bought to put in whenever they go bad. i have over 160,000 miles on this front end wheel bearings are rusty and stuck on pretty good. that makes me think they don't have much time left for the bearings. should i just put these in now for good measure. what do you guys think?

i mean i am doing everything else... ball joints ujoints and all, so bearing for good measure?

 

You could try putting a hub puller on the front, then loosen the hub bolts about 1/4" then hit the bolts from behind. Keep repeating tightening the hub puller a little then hit the bolts from behind a little. Use plenty of PB Blaster.

Eventually the hub should start to move a little just be careful that you don't seperate it in the process.

 

well i got both hubs off... whats everyones thoughts on replacing them?

 

If you have 160K on the unit bearings, you are on borrowed time -- replace them. When you put everything back together clean the rust and use anti-seize on all of the contact areas.

 

yea, i just hadn't planned on spending another 500 dollars on this front end..

also i had a bet with my friend, best 2 out 0f 3... so need more opinoins!

 

do you feel lucky?
personally i would replace them and then forget about the front end for another 150K miles. otherwise you will be back in there replacing hubs before you know it.