Urgent help needed with unplanned front hub assembly swop!!

[Topdownman]

All was going ok with this unplanned work until I tried to remove the assembly off the wishbone. Even though the wishbone was changed very recently, the hub seems locked solid.

Any ideas for how to remove this? The lump hammer, crowbar and plusgas/gt85 I have tried so far is doing nothing.



I am due to be heading to the National Meet tomorrow hence the urgency!

Any suggestions would be gratefully received....

[Carolyn]

go to your local tool supplier and get a ball joint separator.

What is the problem with the hub?

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[Chilli Girl]

Sorry to hear this Simon, you've always got two wheels! If the weather had bn better I was contemplating coming on the Honda but it's too far for me

[mr2garageswindon]

A couple of good hits with a ball pein hammer usually works if you have no ball joint splitter.
I would undo the anti roll bar link too as that will make it harder to push down out of the way (even worse if just 1 wheel jacked up)

[Dev]

 I also use the same tool Carolyn recommends. It is very effective and will not damage the joint. Other methods can cause the grease to come out of the boot or tear the boot.

[1979scotte]

Oh sshiitt.
Sorry best advice I can offer.

[Topdownman]

Thanks for the replies. (And you too Scott!). Still no joy, it remains locked solid.

I have hit it many times with the hammer, tried to crowbar it off and even put a piece of plywood and my car scissor jack in there to try to put pressure on it. (Not many tool shops within walking distance).

I hadnt disconnected the droplink when I did that though which no doubt didnt help and may explain why I appear to have broken the jack which will no longer go up  or down!

Droplink now disconnected and back to the hmmmer when it stops raining, Two wheels is looking more likely tomorrow by the minute!

[Chilli Girl]

Oh no Simon - what a bl--dy nuisance for you - this is definitely something you could've done without for this weekend!  Damn it.

[J88TEO]

ball joint separator.

Only to move that stubborn ball joint.

[mr2garageswindon]

Try putting the hub bolts back in the shock absorber then hitting the hub on the body of it where the ball joint goes through. It will hold it steady and get a better whack on it.

[Topdownman]

Just got back from a walk to the nearest ball joint separator shop and bought a fork type separator which was all they sold, will give that a go if it stops raining,not sure if it will be of any use though as it may just rip the rubber boot?

Thanks for the comments and suggestions, I was advised to put the bolts back in so did that earlier on this afternoon (schoolboy error!) and have hit the hub many times since then. Perhaps I have schoolboy arms too! 

[Carolyn]

Just got back from a walk to the nearest ball joint separator shop and bought a fork type separator which was all they sold, will give that a go if it stops raining,not sure if it will be of any use though as it may just rip the rubber boot?

Thanks for the comments and suggestions, I was advised to put the bolts back in so did that earlier on this afternoon (schoolboy error!) and have hit the hub many times since then. Perhaps I have schoolboy arms too! 

A fork will work - if you're very careful.  But, as you say, there is a real risk of shredding the boot.

[Topdownman]

Progress!





I suspect that after a nights sleep, I had a bit more strength in my schoolboy arms, it came free with a few blows this morning. Now lets hope I dont encounter any more setbacks....

[Gaz mr-s]

Very nice!  What did you use to clean up the hub, & what paint?

[Topdownman]

Just off for e test drive. Keep your fingers crossed.....

[Topdownman]

Very nice!  What did you use to clean up the hub, & what paint?

Just a very quick job this morning as I didnt want to put on a rusty unit. I wire wheeled and wire brushed it, then used granville rust repair, then sprayed zinc primer and then gloss black spray. Doubt it will last that long but looks better than rust!

[Topdownman]

The test drive was a success, the horrible noise has gone! You lucky people will get to see the silver project at the National Meet after all.

Many thanks to you all for the advice and support and to Andy and Stacey at Jspec for getting the used hub assembly to me in about 24 hours!