So I just bought a 1999 Jeep Cherokee Sport, and I'm in love with already. It has a few "presents" that the previous owner may have forgotten to mention, however, and I'm trying to take care of some of them myself.

First up is replacing the wheel bearings, since it has 170k miles and apparently still has the original wheel bearings (and rotors, too).

I've removed everything down to the hub assembly, but now I'm stuck. The hub is hopelessly fused to the brake dust shield/axle, and I can't get it free. I've been using PB blaster and hitting it with a rubber mallet and even a dead blow hammer and the thing will not come off. It's apparently completely rusted on there. So for anyone that has replaced the hubs, any suggestions?

 

I assume you removed the 3 bolts on the inside of the hub,have to ask.

 

Indeed I did.

 

you should be able to wedge an 3 inch extension where the axle shaft comes out of the axle. I will try and explain this. I placed a 3 inch extension with one end of the extension on the edge of the axle and the other end against wheel hub. when I turned the wheel to the right it popped the hub off. I got the idea from a write up i found on line. I will look for it and if I find I will post up.

 

here's a picture of what i'm talking about.




Good Luck bro!!

 

Wow! That's a good idea (if it works without breaking anything)! I busted mine loose with a mini sledgehammer and a screwdriver. I had to work on it for a bit but if you work it out one corner at a time its no problem.

There's a lip inside the nuckle so the hubs in there pretty good!

 

Brilliant... it came off right away. 30 seconds after an hour of whacking at it. Thanks!

 

glad it worked out for you.

 

FYI I used the socket extension/steering method of popping out the hub when I went to install the new ones last night I noticed that my axle shaft was starting to come out of the tube, and so I pulled on it gently and ended up pulling the whole thing out.

I'm not sure if doing that caused it, but the axle was out of the tube 1/4" when I went back after turning the wheel. Just something to consider for anyone else thinking of doing this.

So I guess all I need to do to pop open the differential and stick the shaft back in and reattach the c-clip? Am I on the right track here?

 

No C clip on front axle. don't need it. your bearings keep in place. Just be very careful when you reinsert the axle back as there is an axle seal near the carrier. If you get too agressive, you could damage it.

 

The extension trick is a great idea. However they make a thing called a hub puller that would of made quick work of this as well. Just fyi for anyone searching about wheel hub bearings.

Good luck with the new ride!

 

So do I even need to remove the diff cover?

 

Nope!

 

Cool, thanks.

 

That 3" extention trick is very cool. What my son and I do is just keep an extra set of the 3 hub bolts in the garage, Whenever we need to remove a hub assembly we simply remove the 3 good bolts and set them aside. We thread the "duty removal bolts" in about 3-5 truns and get out the BFH...lol...and a couple good healthy blows on each of them and the hub assembly pops right out. Remove the "duty" bolts and put them back on the shelf for next time. Just another equally good way of doing the job.