Thread: How to replace front hubs

Have any of you guys had a problem getting the hubs off an 04? (the 04's are a 34mm nut btw)

I had my brakes off, axle nut off, and a 2-ton gear puller on the hub (wrapped around the back of the hub with the "bolt" of the puller pushing on the axle) and I stripped out the puller before the hub let loose.
I've done hubs on my K1500 chevy before and all I ever needed to get the axle shaft out of the hubs was a quick smack with a hammer. I thought this would be easy but so far I've wasted an entire afternoon and a $50 puller on the project.

Also, hubs were roughly $130 from 0'reileys for the better ones with a 1 year warranty.

To make it even more complicated I need to leave for a trip by sunday at the latest.

Originally Posted by chevy man

Have any of you guys had a problem getting the hubs off an 04? (the 04's are a 34mm nut btw)

I had my brakes off, axle nut off, and a 2-ton gear puller on the hub (wrapped around the back of the hub with the "bolt" of the puller pushing on the axle) and I stripped out the puller before the hub let loose.
I've done hubs on my K1500 chevy before and all I ever needed to get the axle shaft out of the hubs was a quick smack with a hammer. I thought this would be easy but so far I've wasted an entire afternoon and a $50 puller on the project.

Also, hubs were roughly $130 from 0'reileys for the better ones with a 1 year warranty.

To make it even more complicated I need to leave for a trip by sunday at the latest.

I too had a bunch of issues removing the hubs on my 04. I started by whacking them with a big hammer, didn't work. I then used a gigantic slide hammer that attached to the lug studs, rapped on it a few times, and I thought my axle was gonna fly out. That knocked it loose enough that I could use a fairly large punch in the center of the axle spindle and release the hub. Now my problem lies in the passenger side where one of the bolts has rounded off..........anyone have any suggestions, its the forward most knuckle to hub mounting bolt.

Originally Posted by ZeroAK

I too had a bunch of issues removing the hubs on my 04. I started by whacking them with a big hammer, didn't work. I then used a gigantic slide hammer that attached to the lug studs, rapped on it a few times, and I thought my axle was gonna fly out. That knocked it loose enough that I could use a fairly large punch in the center of the axle spindle and release the hub. Now my problem lies in the passenger side where one of the bolts has rounded off..........anyone have any suggestions, its the forward most knuckle to hub mounting bolt.

We just did a set on a 99 Regal. If you round the bolt you'll have to cut through it with a SawZall or grinder with cutoff wheel on the outside. Just cut down through the bearing and avoid the knuckle. The stealership charged me $7 for a bolt. One of mine was stubborn, the other easy. Forget the flange puller or slidehammer. If it's stuck use an OTC 7394 or similar with an impact gun. Its built like a tank, no worries..............