Hey guys, this definitely belongs here, I feel like an idiot for not being able to get these warn hubs off my front D44. I'm trying to disassemble the axle.

I unscrewed all the alan bolts from around the circumference of the hub and now I'm trying to get the manual hub part off the axle. I've tried wrapping a towel around them and beating them with a rubber mallet but nothing. I've left two alan bolts in and pulled straight out, but no success.

What am I missing here? The truck sat for a couple years without moving but the hubs still lock and unlock perfectly with one hand.

Ideas?

The hub is two pieces...it sounds like you just took all but two screws out without pulling the outer cap off? Someone just described the hub removal procedure a few posts down from this one...

They come out just like the 2WD but with a bigger nut. The fun part is getting the hub off. There are a few different types but most you just remove the screws on the front and pull the cover off. The next item to come off will be the hub guts which should be held in by 2 snap rings, one on the axle shaft (very easy to see) and one that sits in a groove in the hub. if you push the guts in a bit you may see the snap ring. Use a scribe or small screw driver to slip under the snap ring then try and grab it with needle nose or another screwdriver. It small, flexable, and should pull out easy. Once the hub guts are out everything is like a oversized 2WD bearing change.

Jesus Christ....maybe I'm weird, but the FIRST thing I buy when I get a new to me vehicle of any kind is a FSM, or at least a Chiltons, or Haynes manual. They are well worth the cost and give you lots of info about whatever it is you're working on.

You will need a set of snap ring pliers for the stub shaft snap ring, and just a scribe for the hub wire ring. If you plan to keep this truck, go buy the special socket for removing the hub nut. I'm sure if you Google or even search here, you will find an exploded view of what you are dealing with.

Well this is why it's in the newbie section. I put these hubs together a few years ago myself with the help of google but I can't get the hub cap off. Once I get inside there, it's not a problem. I'm not sure if the hub cap is seized on, rusted or if I'm missing something. To my understanding the only hardware holding the cap on is the alan bolts, correct?

I'm afraid to take any kind of heat or large hammer to them, what would you guys suggest?

From your quote, broncojohn said the fun part is getting the hub off. Did he mean the entire hub inside and out or just the cap?

I'm not stranger to the inside of the hubs. For anyone who looks at this later I'll post my tear down pics.

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n214/Rinkrat456/SAS/DSC00556.jpg

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n214/Rinkrat456/SAS/DSC00557.jpg

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http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n214/Rinkrat456/SAS/DSC00571.jpg

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http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n214/Rinkrat456/SAS/DSC00608.jpg


Now...my problem is getting these caps off.
http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n214/Rinkrat456/SAS/DSC00916.jpg


They've been on the vehicle for a couple years while it sat outside. The 6 alan screws are out. I can't get the cap off.

They're on this truck.

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n214/Rinkrat456/SAS/0723071939a.jpg

I see what you're saying now...you had me confused about the "left two bolts in and pulled straight out" thing. Yes, it's just the 6 allen head bolts that hold it in, and they all need to be removed. Depending on how long you've had the hubs on there sometimes the o-ring gets dry rotted from the heat of the brakes and kind of sticks in the wheel hub. You'll probably need a flat head screwdriver and hammer to tap around the edge of it to work it loose (like you did with the old full time hub caps). You may have to get a little forceful with it.

I usually just use a big rubber mallet or deadblow and whack it a couple of times all the way around and it breaks it loose without damaging it.

^ worked for me. Big mallet shouldnt hurt them

It's just friction and a rotten o-ring holding them on. If you have all 6 allen bolts out, start yanking on the thing! :laughing:

Maybe tap around the perimeter of the outer hub with a deadblow or a rubber mallet?

I have had similar problem and use a flat head screw driver and hammer to tap around the hub to knock it off.

BFH worked today...rubber BFH. Thanks fellas. Wasn't sure how hard I could hit this thing to get it off. A few wacks on all sides and it wiggled loose and out.

One side was red and rusty, that was the side I had the most trouble on and started the project on. I'm going to spread some light grease inside the warn hub to help this in the future.