what size socket is used to take off the front hub bearing retaining nut? I mic'd it to 1 11/16 or 43mm. Does anyone have the exact spec to this? I have to buy a socket tomorrow and wanted to make sure I get the right one. I suspect that it is metric given the rest of the thing is.

 

I used a 1 11/16" and it worked fine. Also you'll need to torque to 263 ft. lbs.

 

how hard was it to get off? I will probably have to put a breaker bar in between the lugs and resting agianst the floor as I loosen the nut. Will the spindle come out then or do I need to remove the bearing?

 

Is yours 4 wheel drive? I assume so. I put a bar in the front u joint and let go up against the yolk. The nut is the easy part. The bearing comes in an assembly and it all comes out of the yolk. That's the hard part, not much clearance so if you live in an area that uses salt for roads, chances are its rusted in there really bad. I had to heat up the yolk to get them out. Try to heat yolk only as metal expands when its heated. Plus the wheelshaft was rusted into the bearing assembly. I used a pulley puller to help also. Bearing assembly cost approx. $275.00. I changed all u joints and ball joints while I had apart. Took me approx. 12 hours to do both sides. I did this approx. 5 months ago. The other day I heard a squeak and I had one go bad and had to do 1 side again. Took me approx. 2 hours to replace the one. Thanks to cleaning it all up and assembling it together with a little bit of anti seize on spline and where it goes into the yolk.

 

It is 1 11/16". I just had mine removed a few weeks ago and I know that is what I had to end up using to remove the nut.

 

I'm putting an EMS lockout kit in the front end. If you still need it, I can sell the bearing and front hub set when I'm done.

 

I have been playing with one bearing all morning and can't get it off. Any suggestions? It isn't a reverse thread or something is it? I don't havea good impact wrench. I have tried heating the nut up also without luck. I win't destroy the bearing cage if I heat the nut up will I?