QuestionQUESTION: I can not get the rear bearing hub out. I have all the bolts out and the sensor
off. I'm wondering is the hub pressed in or is it just rusted in? How do I get it
out.
ANSWER: Hi Mark,
If you mean that the wheel drum won't come off of the hub, then I agree that it is probably rusted on as there is a large surface area between the two. I would take some thin penetrating oil or WD-40 and spray it into the area between the drum hole and the stud of each of the 5 studs so that it might seep into that interface and dissolve the rust. Then try tapping on the edge and face of the drum to encourage the fluid to flow into the interface. I would let is sit overnight. If it won't come loose the following morning then I would probably put the tire and wheel back and leave the wheel nuts just a little bit loose, then drive it at modest speeds and apply the foot brake several times which will also apply torque to that interface.
If I have mistaken the kind of rear brakes you have or which part is stuck please let me know. I picture that you have a drum brake, if not let me know please and redescribe what is stuck to what.
Roland
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Thanks for the reply. It's not the brake drum I'm trying to get off it's the whole
wheel bearing hub. The bearing is bad so I have the new hub on hand. I've been
spraying it with WD-40 and have been pounding on it. To me it doesn't look like
its pressed in. I'm just frustrated what looked like an easy job turned into a pain.
Any suggestions? Thanks again Mark
AnswerHi Mark,
I am a bit handicapped in that I only have the '95 and the '98 Van manuals and they are different. If this is front wheel drive only vehicle, then in '95 the hub should indeed come off the way they typically do (remove cotter pin, nut lock, nut, thrust washer, outer bearing, pull off hub) but the 98 manual is different in that the hub and bearing are a single unit that is not serviceable and instead is bolted to the backing plate/ rear axle suspension and thus you remove the bolts from the back side and the entire unit comes out and you replace it with a similar sealed non-serviceable one. If this is an all wheel drive then that seems to be of the latter non-seviceable type both in '95 and '98. So may I suggest that you examine the housing from the back side to see if you observe 4 bolts that might indeed hold the bearing and hub unit in place and thus remove it and replace it with a similar type. Please let me know what you find to be the case.
Roland
