So I've got a little problem

[gravitylover]

I was replacing my rear hubs because the bearings were shot and it was roaring above ~30mph. The passenger side went pretty smoothly but the drivers side didn't. When I went to pull the hub it came apart rather than coming out so now the back half of it is stuck and not going anywhere.

I've tried pretty much everything I can think of including putting some long bolts in from the back side (as if to hold the hub in) but left them pretty loose and hit them with an electric 15# hammer to try and break it loose where it's pressed into the e-brake assembly backing plate. That, and using a heavy slide hammer from the front, has been wholly unsuccessful. The car is stranded on jack stands in my driveway and I'm pretty much at my wits end.

If I knew how to release the e-brake cable and remove the assembly I could press it out fairly easily but I can't seem to make that happen. The other side it came off with the hub and then a couple of taps released it from the backing plate.

Help...

[gravitylover]

@Ultramaroon maybe

[Ultramaroon]

Originally Posted by gravitylover

@Ultramaroon maybe

Post up a pic or two. I'm somewhat following you but am mentally filling in blanks. My response could be way off base.


Good thing you PM'ed me. Mention failed.

[humfrz]

Originally Posted by gravitylover

I was replacing my rear hubs because the bearings were shot and it was roaring above ~30mph. The passenger side went pretty smoothly but the drivers side didn't. When I went to pull the hub it came apart rather than coming out so now the back half of it is stuck and not going anywhere.

I've tried pretty much everything I can think of including putting some long bolts in from the back side (as if to hold the hub in) but left them pretty loose and hit them with an electric 15# hammer to try and break it loose where it's pressed into the e-brake assembly backing plate. That, and using a heavy slide hammer from the front, has been wholly unsuccessful. The car is stranded on jack stands in my driveway and I'm pretty much at my wits end.

If I knew how to release the e-brake cable and remove the assembly I could press it out fairly easily but I can't seem to make that happen. The other side it came off with the hub and then a couple of taps released it from the backing plate.

Help...

Back in the day, when I ran into a situation like that, I would fire up my propane torch and heat up the area to expand the outer part of whatever was binding. Then whack it with a BFH.

That might work - for sure.


humfrz

[gravitylover]

I tried a few different ways of posting pics and it didn't work, I haven't been able to post pics here in a long time. I'm just dumb that way.
https://imgur.com/a/B7uvBqK

Yeah I've tried heat, big hammer even a 15# electric impact hammer. That bugger just likes where it lives. I went way above my pay grade on this one and without knowing how to pull the axle or remove the parking brake assembly I can't get enough room to get in there and wail on it safely.

[Mr.ac]

Oh... well time to get a chisel, sledge hammer and a torch.
Give it the full trump on brown people treatment. Lol.

[spitsnaugle]

My first thought is to continue with a sledge hammer with an extension to the OEM bolts from the back side. But you already tried that.

My next thought would be to remove the entire hub from the car- off the control arm, toe arm, etc. take it to a bench and try again. Find a shop with a press maybe.

[Ultramaroon]

The hand brake is easier than you think. Pull those two clips on the sides and the whole thing pops apart. You can use the other side as an example of how to connect the springs when it's time to put it back together.

You'll have to disconnect the bearing housing from the back plate. Then you'll need a deep fucking wheel puller get claws behind the housing. You may not need one as beefy as this harbor freight special but you get the idea.

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_sbLV8N0-Hc[/ame]

[gravitylover]

Originally Posted by Ultramaroon

The hand brake is easier than you think. Pull those two clips on the sides and the whole thing pops apart. You can use the other side as an example of how to connect the springs when it's time to put it back together.

You'll have to disconnect the bearing housing from the back plate. Then you'll need a deep fucking wheel puller get claws behind the housing. You may not need one as beefy as this harbor freight special but you get the idea.

I have pictures of the springs if I decide to go that route, easier than taking the other side off and apart

If I could get the bearing housing to disconnect from the backing plate I wouldn't be in the situation I'm in. That's similar to the puller I used that pulled the hub apart in the first place. At this point there is nothing on the hub shell for a puller to grab anymore. If there was one that I could use the 4 bolts to hold on and then it would press against the suspension parts it would work but that's the opposite of how they all seem to attach.

[Ultramaroon]

Originally Posted by gravitylover

I have pictures of the springs if I decide to go that route, easier than taking the other side off and apart

If I could get the bearing housing to disconnect from the backing plate I wouldn't be in the situation I'm in. That's similar to the puller I used that pulled the hub apart in the first place. At this point there is nothing on the hub shell for a puller to grab anymore. If there was one that I could use the 4 bolts to hold on and then it would press against the suspension parts it would work but that's the opposite of how they all seem to attach.

I'm stumped. Once those four screws are removed from the hub, that back plate should just pop off. Is it rusted into the axle carrier? Maybe work your way around the bearing housing flange and back plate with a cold chisel after you get the brakes out of the way.


edit: Now that I took another good look, I remember something similar. That's it. Need to get between the two with a chisel. Just a screwdriver, really. Once you get it started, it'll be quick. Work your way around so it doesn't get jammed crooked.

[humfrz]

I reckon you tried spraying the area with PB blaster (or something like that).

Back in the day, I used to douse the area with coal oil, then after an iced tea, hit it with a BIGGER BFH.

OK,OK, I'll admit, sometimes that brought on a trip to the welding shop -


humfrz

[gravitylover]

Originally Posted by Ultramaroon

I'm stumped. Once those four screws are removed from the hub, that back plate should just pop off. Is it rusted into the axle carrier? Maybe work your way around the bearing housing flange and back plate with a cold chisel after you get the brakes out of the way.


edit: Now that I took another good look, I remember something similar. That's it. Need to get between the two with a chisel. Just a screwdriver, really. Once you get it started, it'll be quick. Work your way around so it doesn't get jammed crooked.

I tried but got the thing wedged in there pretty good and was afraid I'd bend the backing plate and make life more difficult so I gave up on that. Maybe I should try harder?

Originally Posted by humfrz

I reckon you tried spraying the area with PB blaster (or something like that).

Back in the day, I used to douse the area with coal oil, then after an iced tea, hit it with a BIGGER BFH.

OK,OK, I'll admit, sometimes that brought on a trip to the welding shop -

humfrz

Yup I started spraying it on Sunday afternoon, did it again Monday then again yesterday. Today I chose to do yard work since my work car is on jack stands until the mobile mechanic gets here tomorrow.

Uh huh. On these modern newfangled things that look similar to the cars of old it's not always so simple to get that repaired, it's more likely you're getting bent over and getting a new part which is usually several new parts after you're done with the bushings and such. What a pita this 'simple' repair turned out to be...

[Ultramaroon]

Originally Posted by gravitylover

I tried but got the thing wedged in there pretty good and was afraid I'd bend the backing plate and make life more difficult so I gave up on that. Maybe I should try harder?

As long as those four screws are out, yeah. Remember that the axle carrier is behind the plate. At worst you'll gouge up the plate a little. Hell, as long as the shaft is loose, take a BFH to the housing like @humfrz says.

[humfrz]

Originally Posted by gravitylover

...Uh huh. On these modern newfangled things that look similar to the cars of old it's not always so simple to get that repaired, it's more likely you're getting bent over and getting a new part which is usually several new parts after you're done with the bushings and such. What a pita this 'simple' repair turned out to be...

Yep, that's one reason that I very rarely do my own work anymore -

Back in the day, you just unscrewed screws and took off nuts and bolts, that you could see, until the part fell off.

Now days they have all these hidden, clips, clamps, slots and thingahmagigs, that aren't really meant to come off without breaking them -

And don't get me started on all of this plastic shit they use to make things these days!

I suggest more heat and a bigger hammer -


humfrz