Front Hub Refuses to Come Off

Mike1291

Mike1291

Senior Member
Both of my front hubs are stuck on the spindle. I've backed the brakes all the way out and the drum spins freely. I was wondering if there is a known way of getting the hubs off if they are stuck on?
 
On jacks stands, try rocking the wheels via the tires back and forth on the spindles while pulling outwards. If you have truly succeeded in sufficiently backing off the brake adjusting wedges, there is nothing else left to keep the brake drums in place.
You could try reversing the spindle nuts with a cotter pin inserted in the castle nut gaps and driving the car forward a few feet and then slamming on the brakes. The drum won't come off doing this, but that might break the bond loose between the brake shoes and the drums.
Marshall
 
Sometimes the shoes will **** and bind up when trying to pull the drums. With the wheels still attached, you could try turning the drums forward and backward while pulling. Also try removing the rods. Also, if the wedges are worn then shoes will not retract like they should. When you finally get it off look at the wedges for wear. If any wear, replace them.
 
I've found a lot of bearings stuck onto the spindles.The liquid dries out a little in the grease,and what's left kind of gluse the bearings onto the spindles.I just pop them off with an L shaped adapter on the Morgan Nokker.(slide hammer) Sometimes you just can't get that outer bearing out without doing something like that.
 
Along the lines of backing off the adjuster wedges, ensure that you have stopped with the brake shoes' clevis pointed tips parked in one of the adjuster wedge's "valleys". It's possible to turn the wedges and end up on a high spot here, pushing the brake shoes outward farther than normal, thus locking the brake drum against the brake shoes. Wiggle your wrench on the adjuster shaft back forth to ensure that a little slop exists. That will tell you that the brake shoe clevis tips are parked in one of the wedge's valleys ("grooves"). Then try to pull off the brake drum(s).
Marshall
 
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Clearly, if the drums spin freely, the brakes are not the problem. I think Marshal's suggestions are the best way to go
 
Thanks for the suggestions. I insured that my brakes were backed off correctly and that the adjuster was not on a high point. I also removed my brake rods just in case. I even put the wheel back on, tried tugging on it, tried banging on it with a rubber mallet, and even put it back on the ground with its full weight and it's still stuck on.

Could I try using some sort of hub puller?
 
You could try a hub puller,, gently
 

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I am go with Synchro and Marshall on this one. If you use the hub puller, put the nut on backwards to protect the threads on the end of the axle. Don't use the washer and leave a gap between the bearing and the nut so that the bearing can move.
 
Have you removed the outer slotted flat washer and outer cone bearing? Pry them out and maybe use a length of 2" x 4" on a floorjack to put upward pressure against the outer end of the hub's snout. If the jack lifts the front end off the jackstands, stop. Release the tension and repeat this procedure a couple times.
If you haven't removed the outer bearing yet, do so. If you can't pry it out of the hub, that's probably where the pinch point is and why the hub won't come off the spindle. It's unlikely the large inner bearing is holding up the parade. I have had trouble getting the outer bearing out in the past. But once it finally was pried out, off came the drum. Just be glad you are not trying to remove a stuck REAR drum! Now, THAT'S a REAL bear!
Marshall
 
What it took was a hub puller like Katy posted; the end of my spindle where the outer bearing rides is beat up. Eventually I'll have to replace the spindles.
 
Mike1291 said:
What it took was a hub puller like Katy posted; the end of my spindle where the outer bearing rides is beat up. Eventually I'll have to replace the spindles.
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I had this issue on one of my front spindles. I needed a wheel puller to get the drum off, the problem was the outer bearing. I think it might have spun for a previous owner and chewed it up. The bearing would not slide on properly. It prevented me from getting the correct wheel bearing preload. I replaced the spindle and all is good.
 
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