3/4 ton rear outer bearing siezed!! how can I get the drum/hub off??

[Ozark Tim]

Never had this happen so I could use help from anyone who has dealt with this.
The driver side rear outer bearing is toast. Axle is out, retainer and lock nut out but the outer bearing must be galded to the axle shaft.
I cant rally get leverage on anything to apply the force needed to persuade it off so I can replace race and bearing. Probably have to work on cleaning up the axle shaft too once I find a way to get this drum/hub off.
Anyone ever face this situation?
Thx
Tim

[Ozark Tim]

FWIW this is on a 71 C-20 with the Eaton HO52.

[mrolds88]

Thin chisel, hammer and a long handled magnet. Chip the inner race until you can crack it. Unless you have access to a torch. I also had one one time on a 59 Chevy BIG truck. Used several 1/2" extensions and a "harmonic balancer" puller. Set the extensions in to the other axle and then put the puller in and it just fit the bolt pattern on the hub. Tightened it up, smacked the drum all around, retightened smacked again. Finally came off. Might work for you.

[swamp rat]

Are you sure its not the brake shoes expanded on the drum?

[Stocker]

Originally Posted by swamp rat

Are you sure its not the brake shoes expanded on the drum?

Kinda what I was thinking also. There could be a "lip" around the inside of the drum, preventing its removal. If so, the star adjuster needs to be rotated so the shoes can move inward and allow the drum to be removed. Unfortunately some backing plates don't have holes or slots for access to the adjusters.

[swamp rat]

Originally Posted by Stocker

Kinda what I was thinking also. There could be a "lip" around the inside of the drum, preventing its removal. If so, the star adjuster needs to be rotated so the shoes can move inward and allow the drum to be removed. Unfortunately some backing plates don't have holes or slots for access to the adjusters.

Mine had no holes ether, i was lucky enough to "persuade" it off.

[Ozark Tim]

Yeah the chisel idea might work
No definately not the brake shoes

[special-K]

The axle shaft came out just fine,right? What exactly is galled to what? Is the inner race/bearing cage galled to the spindle? If so,as mentioned,you need to cut it loose. I can't imagine chiseling through the inner race,it's got some meat to it. I think you'll need to torch it and hope you don't destroy the spindle. I wish I knew some old Indian trick for this,but I've never had this happen before. Maybe just heat on the race,then try hammering the drum off. This is a bad situation and you may need to be looking for another brake drum,backing plate,or even housing/complete rear. Hopefully someone else will have the trick (if there is one).

EDIT: I started typing this before your post.

[Tom Vogel]

Run a small bead of stick weld on the race and it will come right out.

[Ozark Tim]

Yes that is the situation Tim
The axle came out no troubles, bearing is wasted and the inner race of bearing is galded to the axle tube. Woe is me! Its my fault too. I had seen the seal was leaking and drove it without checking the fluid level and she siezed that driver outer bearing. I am sure you are correct, will probably need a new drum/hub before its all over and maybe worse depending on the axle tube condition by the time I extract it..
I think it might turn into a parts truck before i replace the whole 3rd member.
Thx
Tim

[Ozark Tim]

Interesting!
I hadnt thought of that and I do have a wire feed welder. Think that would work?

[Tom Vogel]

Originally Posted by Ozark Tim

Interesting!
I hadnt thought of that and I do have a wire feed welder. Think that would work?

Might well . Give it a shot, just get that heat in it.

[special-K]

There's the ole Indian trick! Worth a shot. Galled vs rust-stuck are two different animals,though. I hope it works.

How about welding a bolt or something substantial you can smack or pull on. I'm also picturing a slide hammer type deal.

[rpmgroup]

I built a puller with a 3/4 fine nut welded to a bar (3/8 x 2" about 8" long) so that the 3/4 bolt goes through and holes drilled for the hub bolts. Bolt the bar to the hub and use a plate over the axle tube end and run the 3/4 bolt in.