Ok so as some of you may know I am trying to replace my passenger side u-joint. So far everything is off except for the hub assembly. I can't get the dang thing to budge and inch. Or even a millimeter for that matter. I have the 3 12 point bolts on the back side removed. It's supposed to come right out right?? Axle nut is off, tire of coarse off, brake calliper and rotor off. All that's left is the hub assembly. But how in the world do I get it off?? I have been readin the service manual and the haynes and they say to take it to a shop if its on there that bad. Well thats a negative because I already have the thing that far apart. Any ideas on how to get this hub off? Or do I have to just keep beatting the he!! out of it till i can't feel my arms??

 

Aren't there four bolts?

Manual says to loosen them all up a quarter inch, and then tap the bolts with a hammer to get the hub to break loose.

 

hmmmmmmm maybe I missed a bolt good point. I'm only seeing 3. but good idea about hittin them with a hammer gonna try that. See if that gets me anywhere.

 

There is only 3 bolts. Ive done both of my hubs since owning my ram and each one I needed to use a hydraulic hub puller. Makes this job 100x easier IMO. It looks like a steering wheel puller only bigger.

 

I used the handle of a wooden hammer wedged in between and hit it with another when I did my ball joints this past weekend. Once I got it to budge a little, I used a small pry bar to work it the rest of the way out.

 

An air chisel works wonder and if you don't have that then use a regular chisel and hammer.

 

I just grabbed mine and slid it out with 125k on it. That Knock'er loose is some good stuff.

You should go to a hardware store and get some bolts if you're going to hammer on them because the stock bolts are expensive at the dealership and you'll mess them up with a hammer.

 

FINALLY!!!!! Got the dang thing out. I tried hitting the bolts. I out a socket on the head so I didn't screw it up. and that was a no go. But beating the **** out of it with a pry bar and a hammer did the trick. Bent the heck out of the dust shield but I'm not worried about that. Now to get the U-joint out. I already broke my vice trying to press it to get the retainer rings out. So I'm goin to a buddies house that has a press and I'm gonna press them out. At least I hope. Thanks again guys. Dodge Forum prevails again. Making the score. Truck 0 Dodge forum 5! lol We do have press in U-joint right??? lol

 

yes it is a press fit into the yoke ears. somebody's wouldn't come out, and they cut the u-joint arms off with an angle grinder, and then beat out the 2 ends individually.

on my rear drive shaft it was tighter than hell coming out, and i wasn't making any progress beating in the new one, so i used the dremel with a sanding disc to open up the ears just a smidgen. don't take off too much, cause you can't put it back.

 

I'm the one that cut them off with an angle grinder. I used a dremel on a front axle shaft u joint. I used the angle grinder on my sisters drive shaft after a couple smacks with a hammer didn't get it out easily. After cutting the cross out of the u joint, the caps pop out with ease.

Before I put the new ones in, I hit the inside of the yokes with some 400 grit sandpaper and it cleans them up nicely without taking off hardly any metal.