hi guys, im fairly new here and i know ive used quite a bit of information from you guys to do some work on my truck before but now i figured id give back. I know there is a linked howto for the front ball joints on the 4x4 solid axle trucks on pavement sucks but i thought id make my own here easier to find for every1 and maybe include some extra info for everything if needed.

i got through most of it yesterday and took pictures, which i still have to upload to set up my howto, only 1 prob. My hub is friggen stuck like welded to the knuckle.. i rented a slide hammer from pepboys but the adapter wouldnt fit the 8 lug on my 2500
we bolted the tire back up and hit the thing with a 10 lb hammer all over no luck
we dropped it on the tires with the bolts just threaded and loose (from the back side of the hub) and rocked the truck back and forth and they are still on there.. due to time limitations idk what else to use i re- assembled everything and went home

If you guys have any ideas of what i can do please let me know.. i read about putting a socket and extension on the bolts and using the power steering to push it out.. ill try that next sounds scary cuz idk where to get the bolts ha

this truck is located in northern nj and saw its fair share of salty roads.. poor thing is rusting like crazy unbelieveable for a 2002 im really ashamed at dodges ability to properly coat parts with paint under the body ha
thanks in advance to any help... hopefully ill get those pics up so i can get this how to under way !

 

get a three jaw puller and put the jaws around the lug part of the hub assembly, tighten the bolt good and tight and than take two chisels and pound them inbetween the seam of the bearing and the knuckle, should come out with no problems.

This is how I remove mine, that way i dont have to worry about messing up the bearing

 

Don't use the slide hammer. You can possibly ruin the bearings. The easiest way to get the hub off is to find a hunk of metal about an inch and a half long. Then thread the bolts in the back of the hub on either side. Don't worry about the top one. Then have someone sit in the drivers seat with the engine running. stick the hunk of metal on the back of the bolt and have your assistant turn the steering weel slowly until the metal is jammed on the bolt and the axle. (You'll see what I'm talking about when the start turnig the wheel.) Then stand back so that if that metal breaks it dosn't hit you. Have the asitant keep turning the wheel eventually the hub will either slowly press out or it will pop out. If it just slides out you'll have to do the same thing to the bolt on the other side until it works its way out.

 

isnt that kind of hard on the bolts and the threads?

 

im going to buy some other bolts to try that incase they snap... i was thinking of taking the whole assy out not just the bearings.. that way i dont have to take the big nut off leme know if u got any other ideas ill try those

 

Thats basically how I've always heard to do it too.

 

ive always just used the 3 jaw puller and chisels, that way the whole assembly comes out and i dont have to worry about ****ing up the bearings

 

By using a slide hamer you could potentially mess up the bearing. I don't see how you could use a puller. Theres nothing for the puller to push against. If you used the axle shaft as the point you are pushing on it will just slie farther into the axle shaft without pulling the hub out. As faras the bolts and threads go they used a really soft metal for the bolts. I would definetly use a differnt bolt. I messed the threads up on one of the bolts and the next time I go to take that hub off I'm going to have to cut the bolt to get it off.

 

pullers usually have a cap on the end so it wont go into the axleshaft, just rest on top of it

Not saying its the correct way, but thats the way I do it, and it works super good

 

can you just get those bolts from the dealer if i snap one? red what kind of puller do u have is it expensive? i dont see how you would pull i guess u would push on the shaft once the retaining nut is removed.. there isnt like a bolt plate or c clip on the dana 60 front axle right? cuz i dont want to damage anything internally thanks