I’m hoping that someone can advise what to do to remove rear hubs that just don’t want to cooperate.

I’ve received hub spacers from Alliance (very nicely done) and after scheduling around weather tried to install them yesterday. Everything seems straight forward enough. I unhooked two of the cable brackets and ABS wire. I backed out the four hub bolts and prepared to gently ease out the hub+back-plate. No go. O.K. so I try to gently pry between the back plate and swing arm frame; Nope. I put back the four bolts half-way and tap them with a drift and peen hammer; not moving! Remove drum and examine from the inside… see nothing… remove the four bolts again and drift peen the hub housing from the inside to loosen it – no movement whatsoever. I’ve yanked, pried and tapped without there being any hint that the hub can move. You’d swear that it was welded in place.

As the bearing hub is not inexpensive, I’ve refrained from using sledgehammers and torches. Still, I’m not being gentle.

Is there a technique I should use? What am I missing? This is on a 2004 XB with 65,000 miles in New England so things are somewhat crusty, but not too bad.

 

Wierd. Mine practically fell off. It's an 06.5, 20k miles, in Phoenix, but stil....
I suggest soaking it with PB Blaster, putting the bolts back in loosely, putting the wheel back on, dropping it on the ground, set the e-brake and try rocking the car back and forth a little bit. Or, leave the bolts out, put the wheels back on and using the additional leverage that gives you to rock the hub off.

 

PB blaster is the god of penetrating oils

 

Air hammers are a great air tool to have!
Yeah, PB Blaster FTW! We use it everyday at work...

 

same here. [when i had a job :-(]if your nervous about a hammer. get a heavyweight rubber mallet. that works decent. with the right blow it will work

 

I’m tempted to try the four bolts out one rotation; that should not be any worse than driving with loose lug nuts. It’s no way to follow a band cross-country but fine bouncing down a country lane. I can’t see taking out all four bolts completely; I just have visions of the police cruiser in American Graffiti.

An air hammer IS nice but the question here is what is there to hammer?

I’ll go industrial with the PB Blaster and see how that works. While I’m in there I might as well replace the brake shoes. Any recommendations?

 

how many miles are on it? im well over 122K and everything holds fine. e-brake works good and all you have to do is adjust them out when you service the front brakes. they wont need replacing for a good while

 

WOW! I did the same install last night and the same thing happened to my passenger hub....bonded to the frame.

Re-install one of the 12mm bolts, but leave about a quarter inch unscrewed.
This will hold the hub from flying across the room when it finally breaks free.
I had to re-install the wheel and tire assembly so I could have something to kick.
I got under the car and used my feet to kick the hub free. (After two hours of attempting everything else.) It did break free after 82,850 miles of bonding.

Alliance sent me one half and one third inch spacers so this install was delayed by one week.

A screw was embedded in my tire, I removed it and now I have a flat. Temporary spare looks good with the spacers in place.

 

Spray everything down with the PB Blaster and let it soak overnitght. It might help getting the lube stuff where it needs to be by removing the drums.
Should come apart fine. Grease everything before you put it back together so it doesn't rust up the next time.