How to Remove a Stuck Wheel and Hub Assembly Using Only the Tools You Already Have in Your Garage

If this fails, there are a few techniques you may try to remove the wheel hub and bearing. Our experts provide some alternative approaches for loosening and removing a stuck wheel bearing and wheel hub assembly in this article and video.

What Is the Procedure for Removing a Stuck Wheel Hub and Bearing from the Knuckle?

It’s not difficult to remove a wheel hub. The wheel hub can corrode and become caught inside if it and the wheel knuckle are constructed of different metals. In this case, because the wheel hub is made of steel and the wheel knuckle is made of aluminium, corrosion has caused the two parts to merge, making them difficult to remove.

This article examines an extreme scenario in which the wheel hub would not budge after employing several tried-and-true methods.

10 Ways to Loosen a Stuck Wheel Bearing and Hub Assembly

The following are ten methods for relieving a blocked wheel bearing. We recommend performing these procedures in order since some of them are only effective if the wheel bearing is severely clogged.

Using a hammer, tap the rear of the wheel hub

Tap the Back of the Wheel Hub with a Hammer

You may loosen the rear wheel hub by striking it with a hammer. If that doesn’t work, there are a few more methods to remove a frozen wheel hub.

Using a Slide Hammer, remove the wheel hub

Using a slide hammer to remove the wheel hub is also possible. To loosen the wheel hub, tighten a few lug nuts and pull on the hammer.

The hub is removed with a slide hammer in the video below. If that fails, try soaking the wheel hub in rust penetrant and leaving it for a long time. Thread one of the old bolts to the back of the hub and pound it with an air hammer or a sledgehammer and a punch.

Remove a Stud from a Lug Nut and Tighten a Bolt to the Hub; Exhaust Expanders Are Adjusted To The Hub If The Knuckle Is Steel, And Tap The Wheel Hub With A Hammer

How to Remove a Stuck Wheel Hub and Bearing in One Move

1. Remove a Stud from a Lug Nut
2. Remove the lug nuts, then use a cut-off wheel to slice through the stud. Use a hammer to push out the rest of the stud through the wheel hub.
3. Remove the bolts and loosen the dust shield to get at the rear of the wheel knuckle. To Remove or Replace Wheel Hubs, Use These Tools
4. If the knuckle is constructed of steel, you may use exhaust spreaders to push the hub out.
5. If the knuckle is made of a different material, tighten a nut and bolt to the empty wheel hub stud slot.
6. If the knuckle is composed of a different material, such as aluminium, you may use a bolt and nut to pull it out through an empty wheel stud hole, which will serve as a pry. To avoid harm to the knuckle, before tightening the puller bolt, place a spacer like a nut between the nut and the wheel knuckle. Loosen the hub by tightening the puller bolt on the nut.

If Step 4 fails, repeat the same procedure after soaking the hub in rust penetrant for 20 minutes and striking it off if required.

If step 4 fails, apply pressure to the bolt and soak the hub with rust penetrant for 20 minutes. After soaking the bolt in a rust penetrant, try removing it using the same technique. To loosen the wheel hub, tap on its edge with a sledgehammer while keeping the bolt firmly installed.

Remove the second lug nut stud using method 4.

If the steps above don’t work, find a good surface area on the wheel knuckle for tapping a hammer and remove a stud on the opposite side of the wheel hub. Tighten another bolt and attempt to loosen the hub with method 4’s methods. Soak the wheel hub in rust penetrant and apply pressure while using a sledgehammer to hit it from the other side.

With pressure applied to the two puller bolts, tighten the bolt on the backside of the hub. 

Remove the wheel by pressing down on both puller bolts with a wrench, then tighten another bolt to the rear side and push the trapped wheel hub out. If this does not work, repeat tightening of the puller bolts from the front side.

Chisel the Ears on the Hub Body

With the puller bolts in place, use an air chisel to trim the ears on the hub body. The wheel hub body may be spun and loosened by applying traction to one side. To release any corrosion from the wheel hub, tap it with a hammer on one side.

Heat the Mating Area with a Torch and Tighten the Puller Bolts

If these methods don’t work, warm the mating area of the wheel hub with a torch without heating the other parts too much, such as the knuckle or axle. Then tighten the puller bolts to the wheel hub and apply pressure, then try tapping the hub’s side again with a hammer.

Remove the wheel hub with a Wheel Bearing Puller Tool or Pipe Wrench and Hammer.

With a pipe wrench connected to the floor jack, loosen a frozen wheel hub and bearing assembly by lowering the vehicle.

A wheel bearing puller tool is used to remove the knuckle. If you don’t have access to one, along pipe wrench can be attached to the top of the wheel hub and beaten with a hammer until it comes free.

You must use a floor jack to lower the car down and keep energy from going through the coil spring on the front strut and into the automobile’s body.

Remove the Wheel Knuckle and Push the Wheel Hub Assembly Out with a Press or Hammer

If the methods above don’t work, consider supporting and removing the entire wheel knuckle as a last resort. Then bring the whole assembly to a press and push out or remove the wheel hub with a hammer or air hammer.

Removing the Hub Assembly with a Hammer

Spray the hub with rust penetrant and tap it out from the back using a rubber mallet.

Using a Press to Remove the Hub Assembly

Remove the backing plate by bending it over or cutting it off. Place the knuckle in a press and apply pressure to the backside, allowing the press to break free of any trapped wheel bearings.
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