so i get out of school and go pick up this hub and wheel bearing off an xj that had 12,000 miles..payed thirty bucks a piece and so i go to start pulling apart the hub to replace it all well i start by undoing the three bolts from the back and the last one snaps completely off..so now the bolts are 2out and 1 half out i figured i could pull it off but my xj is from ohio so of course everything is rusted together and after 2 hours of trying to pry the thing off i quit and just went to replacing the whole hub piece and i got the one off easily for the steering linkage but the cotter pins broke off inside the other two and now are jammed on so i have no idea what to do now!!!!!

 

is the hub still stuck on the axle?

i'll let you in on a little trick for breaking the hubs free from the axle...

take the top bolt out, leave the bottom ones in, but backed out until the end of the bolt is about even with the hub. so they're only in a few threads.
now, take your ratchet with your 13mm or 1/2" 12pt socket still attached and put it on one of the bottom bolts. now go inside and turn your steering wheel until the ratchet comes in contact with the c-knuckle, then using the power in the steering wheel, force it a bit until the hub pops off.
you may have to take the ratchet and move it to the other bolt and do the same thing.
don't worry, it will pop off. i have had the most seized on hubs come off without even breaking a sweat.
remove the bolts and voila. done.
when you put it back together, use lots of antiseize.'
you now have the option of leaving those pesky dust shields off.


don't forget to remove the 36mm hub nut.

you're welcome

 

i had the same thing happen.
used a pair of vice grips real tight on the threads to back the rest of the bolt out

 

thanks one thing i did try was i put an extension in the bottom bolt hole on the back and turned the wheel on it then put it in the other hole and beat it with a hammer since thats where the broken bolt is...but still no look maybe tomo i can get back out there and give that one a try ill have a buddy to help me then


thanks

 

wow never thought of trying that one either i will in the morning though

 

Great idea... but what if your axle is sitting on the ground?

 

loosen the three 12pt bolts a few turns, then hit with a hammer. keep the socket on the bolt to protect the bolt heads.

 

Well, if you've got a bolt broken off in a hole, you're going to have to drill a hole in it and use a device called an "E-Z out." Despite the name, it ain't too easy.

If you're lucky, when the bolt broke, it left a flat surface. If it broke at an angle, it's going to be more difficult. If the stub of the bolt left in the hole broke with a more-or-less flat surface, get a center punch with a hardened tip, and try to center punch the stub bolt as close to center-perfect as you can. Get a small carbide drill bit (maybe 1/16" or so), place it in the hole on the center-punch dent and start drilling. DRILL STRAIGHT DOWN THE MIDDLE. Don't get off at an angle or you'll tear up the hole hreads.

When you drill a hole in a stuck, broke-off bolt, sometimes drilling the hole relieves pressure and the stuck threads separate and the bolt stub comes out easy, sometimes even while you're drilling it.

If it's still stuck after you drill the hole, then use the E-Z Out. The E-Z Out has twists that are reverse from regular right-hand threads. So as you turn the E-Z out "lefty loosey" (counterclockwise) it is screwing deeper into the hole. When it bites, it will start UNSCREWING the bolt stub. Use plenty of Liquid Wrench or something else like that.

If you have a torch, try heating up the bolt stub.
It will get hot, and expand. When it cools off, it will contract, and may break the threads loose.

Be careful about smacking the bolt stub much. You don't want to "mushroom" the stub, which will make it stuck more, instead of less.

When you put this sucker back together, use plenty of Never-Seize on all threads and anywhere where metal parts have a tight mechanical fit. Keep it off of brake drums, brake rotors and brake shoes though..

 

The way I read it... THe bolt broken off shouldn't be a problem. Get a sledge hammer and beat the hell out of the hub until it comes off... The bolt is threaded into the hub that's coming off anyways...

 

Took some spare bolts and threaded them in a bit and beat it with a BFH. Had it off in 5 minutes. Worked great.

 

how can it be on the ground if the hub is still on

 

What?...

 

 

Gotta love that, Caged. Three full years pass, and you pick it up as if it was yesterday!